Sitting of 22 April 1820

Preamble
The House met at two o'clock, and was immediately after summoned by the Black Rod to the House of Peers. On their return,
The Speakerinformed the House, that they had been in the House of Peers, where the commissioners, authorized by his majesty's commission, had communicated to him that his majesty had been graciously pleased to approve of their choice of him as Speaker. He had thereupon immediately proceeded to claim for them their ancient rights and privileges of freedom of speech, freedom from arrest for themselves and servants, free access to the royal presence, &c. all of which his majesty had been graciously pleased to grant to them in as full and ample manner as ever had been granted on any former occasion. He must again express the deep sense of gratitude which he felt to the House for having thus conferred on him this, the highest mark of confidence in their power; and he must now implore them to give him their constant support to enable him to preserve their privilege which were not only theirs, but the privileges of all the Commons of England. He had also to entreat their constant and unremitting support and assistance in preserving the established rules and orders of the House; not less necessary for the preservation of decency and regularity in their proceedings, than they were for the convenient dispatch of business. It should be his constant study so to discharge the duties of his high situation as to give satisfaction to the House, and in such a manner as should be most useful to the public, and conducive to his own honour. The first business which gentlemen had now to attend the was, to take the several

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oaths of supremacy, abjuration, &c. indispensably necessary to qualify them to take their seats.
The Speaker then proceeded to take the oaths himself, and was followed by numerous other members.

Preamble
The deputy usher of the Black Rod was sent to the House of Commons to desire their attendance. Shortly afterwards, the Speaker, followed by a great number of other members, came to the bar.
Mr. Manners Suttonsaid:—My lords, I have the honour to announce to your lordships, in the name of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, that his majesty's faithful Commons have proceeded to the choice of a Speaker, and that that choice has fallen upon me. I am fully aware, my lords, of the arduous duties of the situation to which I have thus been chosen, and of my own insufficiency to perform those duties. Should, however, it be his majesty's pleasure to reject the choice thus made by his faithful Commons, it is consolatory to me to know that there are many members of the House much better qualified than myself to fulfil the office of Speaker, upon any one of whom their choice may most advantageously devolve.
The Lord Chancellor—Mr. Manners Sutton; his majesty being fully aware of your tried ability and zeal for the public service, has commanded us to signify his most gracious approbation of the choice made by his faithful Commons of you to be their Speaker.
The Speaker—My lords, I humbly submit myself to his majesty's most gracious pleasure. It becomes, therefore, my duty, in the name of his majesty's faithful Commons, to claim their ancient and undoubted privileges, namely, freedom from arrest and molestation for themselves, their servants and estates, freedom of debate, and free access to his majesty whenever occasion shall require it. I have also, coy lords, further to request, in the name of his majesty's faithful Commons, that the most favourable construction may be put upon all their proceedings, and that if any mistake should arise, it may be imputed to me, and not to them.
The Lord Chancellor—Mr. Speaker; we have it in command from his majesty, most graciously to allow to his faithful Commons all the privileges and immuni-
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ties, and that in the most full and ample manner, which they enjoyed under any of his predecessors; and we have it further in command from his majesty to declare to you, that in every case the most favourable construction shall be put upon the proceedings of his majesty's faithful Commons.
The Speaker and the members retired, and the lords commissioners withdrew to unrobe. On the return of the latter, the lord chancellor took the woolsack, and the oaths were administered to those lords who came into the House.