Sitting of 16 December 1806

Preamble
The Speaker came to the house at 12 o'clock. Soon after this, Mr. Quarme, deputy usher of the black rod, appeared at the
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bar, and summoned the house to the house of peers.
The Speakeraccordingly went up, followed by a number of the members. On their return he addressed the house thus:—I have to acquaint the house, that I have been in the house of peers, where his majesty, by his commissioners, has been graciously pleased to approve and confirm the choice of this house, in the election they have made of me to be their speaker, and that I have there laid claim, by humble petition to his majesty, to all our ancient and undoubted rights and privileges; and more especially, freedom from all arrests or molestations, for ourselves, and our servants; freedom of speech in debate, free access to his majesty's royal person, as occasion may require, and that all our proceedings may receive the most favourable construction. All which his majesty has been pleased to allow in as full and ample a manner as has ever been done to any of my predecessors. And now I have again to return you my warmest and most grateful thanks for the high honour which you have been pleased to confer upon me, assuring you, that it is my purpose to act in all matters with the strictest impartiality; and I have, at the same time, to entreat the house to afford me their constant support in maintaining the established rules and orders, all which have been found so necessary for the dignity of our proceedings, and the dispatch of business. I have now only further to remind the house, that the first thing to be done upon the present occasion, is, for the several members to take and subscribe the oaths of supremacy, abjuration, and qualification as the law requires.—The speaker himself first took the usual oaths. The members then came to the table by parties, and were sworn in the usual manner. This business continued till 4 o'clock, when the house adjourned till to-morrow.

Preamble
This day at twelve o'clock four of his majesty's commissioners, namely, the lord chancellor, the earl of Aylesford, earl Spencer, and lord Walsingham, took their seats in the usual form. Mr. Quarme, the deputy usher of the black rod, was sent to the house of commons to require their attendance. A great number of the members of the house of commons, preceded by Mr. Abbot, in full dress, shortly afterwards appeared at the bar.
Mr. Abbotaddressed the lords commissioners as follows:—My lords, I have to acquaint you, that in compliance with the commands of his majesty, and in the exercise of their undoubted privilege, the commons of the united kingdom, in parliament assembled, have proceeded to the choice of a fit and proper person to fill the high and important situation of speaker to their house. As the object of that choice, I now submit myself for the approbation of his majesty, with due and sincere humility, deeply impressed with a sense of the many and undeserved favours I have already received from his hands, and fully confident of my inadequacy to fulfil the duties of this high situation in a manner correspondent with the dignity and importance of so sacred a trust. But of this I am convinced, that should his majesty conceive the present choice of his faithful commons not consistent with his own and the public interests, they will immediately proceed to the election of some more suitable and proper person to fill that important and dignified situation.
The Lord Chancellorin the name of the commission said, Gentlemen of the house of commons; We have it in command from his majesty to signify his most gracious approval of the choice you have made in the important appointment of speaker to your house. For my own part when I reflect on the great and comprehensive talents, on the perfect acquaintance with the forms and precedents of parliament, of the gentleman whom you have honoured with your choice; when I reflect on that high character for learning and wisdom for which he is so pre-eminently conspicuous; it is unnecessary for me to say any thing further than merely to express that his majesty fully approves of the object of your choice.
The Speakerthen said,—My lords; His majesty having been most graciously pleased to confirm the choice of his faithful commons, my first duty, after returning my most grateful acknowledgements for the kind manner in which the performance of my duties have been accepted and approved; and after expressing the strong conviction I feel of the indulgence his majesty has ever manifested to unintentional error, is to lay claim, in their name, and on their behalf, to all their ancient rights and privileges; particularly that their persons, estates, and servants, may be free from arrest, and all molestation; that they may enjoy liberty of speech in their debates; that they may have access to his majesty's royal person, whenever occasion may require; and that all their proceedings may receive from his majesty the most favourable construction. For my own part, I do entreat, that whenever any thing in the shape of failing or error may occur, it may be attributed to myself only, and not to his majesty's faithful commons.
The Lord Chancellorin his majesty's name replied, that the accustomed privileges of the house of commons would be continued to them, and that the most favourable construction would be put upon all their acts.—The commons then withdrew, after which the house adjourned during pleasure. At three the house again met, and sat till four, during which time several peers took the usual oaths and their seats.