HL Deb 20 June 1905 vol 147 cc1077-8

The Right Hon. JAMES WILLIAM LOWTHE, Speaker-Elect, presented.

The usual salutations having been exchanged between the Royal Commissioners (the Lord Chancellor, Earl Waldegrave, and the Earl of Kintore) and Mr. Lowther,

THE SPEAKER-ELECT

said: My Lords, I have to inform your Lordships that His Majesty's faithful Commons, in obedience to His Royal command and 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 His Majesty's gracious approbation.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR (The Earl of HALSBURY)

My Lords and Gentlemen of the House of Commons, it not being convenient for His 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 declare His Majesty's approbation of the choice of his faithful Commons of Mr. James William Lowther to be Speaker, which Commission you shall now hear read.

The Reading Clerk (Mr. E. H. Alderson) then read the terms of the Commission.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR

Mr. Lowther, we have it in command from His Majesty to declare His 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 House; and in obedience to the Commission which has been read, and by virtue of the authority therein contained, we do declare His Majesty's Royal allowance and confirmation of you, Sir, as Speaker of the House of Commons.

MR. SPEAKER

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

The SPEAKER then retired.

House adjourned at a quarter past Two o'clock, to Monday next, a quarter past Four o'clock.