§ THE HOUSE of PEERS being met,
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the House,
§ "That Her Majesty, not thinking fit to be personally present here this day, has been pleased to cause a Commission to be issued under the Great Seal, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament."
2§ Then Five of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS—namely, The LORD CHANCELLOR (Lord Halsbury); The CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER (The Duke of Rutland); The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Viscount Cross); The SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (Lord Knutsford); The LORD CHAMBERLAIN (The Earl of Lathom)—being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know "The Lords 3 Commissioners desire their immediate Attendance in this House, to hear the Commission read."
§ Who being come;
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR said—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen of the House of Commons,
§ "We are commanded by HER MAJESTY to let you know, it not being convenient for Her to be present here this day in Her Royal Person, that she has thought fit, in order to the opening and holding of this Parliament, to cause Letters Patent to be issued under the Great Seal, empowering His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and several other Lords therein named Her Commissioners, to do all things in Her Majesty's name, on Her part necessary to be performed in this Parliament, and this will more fully appear by the Letters Patent themselves, which will now be read.
§ Then the said Letters Patent were read by the Clerk. And then
§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR said—
§ "My Lords, and Gentlemen,
§ "We have it in command from Her Majesty to let you know that as soon as the Members of your House shall be sworn, Her Majesty will declare the causes of Her calling this Parliament; and, it being necessary that a Speaker of the House of Commons shall be first chosen, it is Her Majesty's Pleasure that you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, repair to the Place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the Choice of some proper Person to be your Speaker; and that you present such Person whom you shall so choose here, to-morrow, at Twelve o'clock, for Her Majesty's Royal approbation."
§ Then the Commons withdrew.