§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, I beg to acquaint the House that a Commission has been issued under His Majesty's Great Seal to several Lords therein named authorizing the said Lords to declare in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, His Majesty's approbation of the choice of the Commons of Brevet-Colonel the Rt. Hon. Douglas Clifton Brown to be their Speaker.
§ THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS (THE LORD CHANCELLOR, THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, THE MARQUESS OF CREWE, VISCOUNT FITZALAN OF DERWENT AND LORD ADDISON) being seated in front of the Throne, and the Commons having been sent for:
§ MR. SPEAKER-ELECT (COLONEL THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DOUGLAS CLIFTON BROWN), addressing the Royal Commissioners, said: My Lords, I have to inform your Lordships that His Majesty's faithful Commons, in obedience to His Majesty's Commands, have, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen on me. I therefore present myself with all humility at your Lordships' Bar and submit myself for His Majesty's most gracious approbation.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords and Members of the House of Commons, it not being convenient to His Majesty to be personally present here at this time, a Commission has been issued under the Great Seal commanding us and several other Lords therein named to notify and declare His Majesty's approbation of the choice of his faithful Commons of Colonel Douglas Clifton Brown to be their Speaker, which Commission you will now hear read.
§ The Commission having been read:
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORColonel Clifton Brown, we have it in Command from His Majesty to declare His Majesty's entire confidence in your talents, diligence and sufficiency to fulfil the important duties of the high office of Speaker of the House of Commons for 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 confirma- 499 tion of you, Sir, as Speaker of the House of Commons.
MR. SPEAKERMy 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.
§ Mr. Speaker and the Commons then retired.
§ House adjourned during pleasure.
§ House resumed.