HL Deb 22 April 1895 vol 32 cc1397-8

William Court Gully, Esquire, Q.C., Speaker-elect, presented to the Lords Commissioners (by command of Her Majesty) under a Commission issued on that behalf.

The Commissioners' were the Lord Chancellor (Lord Herschell), the Earl of Kimberley, Earl Spencer, Lord Carrington, and Lord Kensington.

*MR. SPEAKER-ELECT,

addressing the Commissioners, said: I have to inform your Lordships that Her Majesty's faithful Commons, in obedience to Her Royal command, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, have proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and their choice has fallen on me. I therefore present myself at your Lordships' bar and submit myself to Her Majesty's gracious approbation.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

It not being convenient for Her Majesty to be present at this time, a Commission has been issued under the Great Seal, commanding us and several other Lords to notify and to declare Her Majesty's approbation of the choice of her faithful Commons of William Court Gully to be Speaker, and which Commission you shall now hear read.

The Reading Clerk (the Hon. Slingsby Bethell) read the Commission at the table.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

Mr. Gully—We have it in command from Her Majesty to declare Her Majesty's entire confidence in your talents, diligence, and efficiency to fulfil the important duties of the high office of Speaker of the House, of Commons, to which you have been chosen by that Houses; and in obedience to the Commission which has been read, and by virtue of the authority therein contained, we do declares Her Majesty's Royal allowance and continuation of you, Sir, as Speaker of the House of Commons.

MR. SPEAKER

My Lords—I submit myself in all humility to Her Majesty's Royal will and pleasure, and if in the discharge of my duties and in maintaining the rights and privileges of the Commons Houses of Parliament I shall be led into any inadvertent error, I pray that the blame may be imputed to me alone and not to Her Majesty's faithful Commons.

Mr. SPEAKER

retired, followed by the large body of Members who stood near the Bar.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR rose shortly afterwards, and, taking his seat for a moment on the Woolsack,

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (the Earl of Kimberley) moved the adjournment of the House until Tuesday, the 30th.