Sitting of 19 November 1847

APPROVAL OF THE SPEAKER.
The House met at Two o'clock, and a Message being received to attend the Lords Commissioners, the House went; and being returned,
MR. SPEAKER(standing on the steps leading to his chair) addressed the House as follows:—I have to acquaint this hon. House that I have been to the House of Peers, where I communicated to the Lords Commissioners authorised by Her Majesty that this House had proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice had fallen upon me. The Lords Commissioners confirmed that appointment, and gave me the assurance of Her Majesty's gracious sanction thereto, whereupon I laid claim, on the part of this House, to its ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to the privileges of freedom from arrest for ourselves and our servants, freedom of debate, free access on the part of this House to Her Majesty at all reasonable times whenever we require it, and that the most favourable constructions should be put upon our words and actions. And I have to inform the House that the Lords Commissioners were authorised on the part of Her Majesty to concede these privileges to the fullest extent to which they had ever been conceded by Her Majesty and Her predecessors to this House. I cannot make this communication to the House without again repeating to the House my sincere and respectful thanks for having again placed me in the high position which I now occupy, and without assuring them that it will always be my earnest endeavour, with the assistance and support of this House—and, after the proceedings which took place yesterday, I am confident that I shall always receive that assistance and support—to maintain the dignity and authority of this House, and that respect for its rules and orders, on a due observance of which not only the proper and satisfactory discharge of public business, but also the character of the House, must entirely depend. I have now to remind the House that the only business with which we can proceed is to take the oaths at the table required by law.
MR. SPEAKERthen took the oaths,

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first alone; and after the remainder of the sitting was occupied in swearing Members.
House adjourned at a quarter after Four o'clock.

MINUTES.
Took the Oaths,—Several Lords.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
The Royal Commissioners appointed to approve the choice of the Commons were, The LORD PRESIDENT, Lord LANGDALE, Earl GREY, the Earl of AUCKLAND, and Lord CAMPBELL.
Shortly after Two o'clock the Commissioners entered the House, and took their seats in front of the Throne.
The LORD PRESIDENTdirected the Usher of the Black Rod to inform the House of Commons that the Lords Commissioners desired their attendance there immediately.

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After the lapse of a few minutes, the Speaker, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, appeared at the bar, attended by the Usher of the Black Rod, and followed by several Members of the House.
MR. SPEAKERthen addressed the Royal Commissioners as follows:—I have to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to Her Majesty's commands, Her Majesty's faithful Commons have, in the exercise of their undoubted rights and privileges, proceeded to the election of a Speaker; and as the object of their choice, however unworthy, I now submit myself with all humility to Her Majesty's royal pleasure.
The LORD PRESIDENTsaid: Mr. Shaw Lefevre, we are commanded by Her Majesty to assure you that Her Majesty is sensible of your ample ability to discharge those important duties which Her Majesty's faithful Commons have elected you to perform, and that Her Majesty most fully approves and confirms their choice.
MR. SPEAKER: With the deepest gratitude I bow to the decision of the House of Commons, confirmed as it has been by Her Majesty's gracious approbation. It now becomes my duty, in the name and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition, to those undoubted rights and privileges to which they have been heretofore entitled; more especially freedom from arrest for themselves and their servants, freedom of speech in debate, and free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion may require it; and they beg that Her Majesty will be graciously pleased to put the most favourable construction on all their words and actions; and for myself I have to pray that any error may be attributed to me alone, and not to Her Majesty's faithful Commons.
The LORD PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, we have it further in command from Her Majesty to inform you, that Her Majesty most readily confirms all the rights, liberties, and privileges which have ever been granted to or conferred upon Her Majesty's faithful Commons by any of Her Majesty's royal predecessors. With respect to yourself, Sir, although Her Majesty is sensible you stand in no need of any such assurance, we are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty will ever put the most favourable construction on your words and actions, as well as on those of Her faithful Commons.
The Commons then withdrew from the
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bar, and the Royal Commissioners retired.
House adjourned.