Sitting of 1 May 1857

Preamble
The House being met, and Mr. SPEAKER ELECT having taken the Chair;
A Message was delivered by Sir Augustus Clifford, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod:
Mr. Speaker,
The Lords, authorized by virtue of a Royal Commission, desire the immediate attendance of this Honourable House in the House of Peers.
Accordingly, Mr. Speaker Elect, with the House, went up to the House of Peers, where he was presented to the said Lords Commissioners for Her Majesty's approbation.
Then the LORD CHANCELLOR, one of the said Lords Commissioners, signified Her Majesty's approbation of Mr. Speaker Elect.
The House being returned;
MR. SPEAKERsaid: I have to acquaint the House that the House has been
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to the House of Peers; where Her Majesty was pleased, by Her Commissioners, to approve of the choice the House have made of myself to be their Speaker; and that I have, in their name, and on their behalf, by humble petition to Her Majesty, laid claim to all their ancient rights and privileges, particularly that their persons, and servants, might be free from arrests and all molestations; that they may enjoy liberty of speech in all their debates; may have access to Her Majesty's Royal Person whenever occasion shall require; and that all their proceedings may receive from Her Majesty the most favourable construction; which Her Majesty, by Her said Commissioners, has confirmed to the House in as full and ample a manner as they have been heretofore granted or allowed by Her Majesty or any of Her Majesty's Royal Predecessors. Once more repeating my most respectful acknowledgments for the high honour which the House has conferred upon me, I have to remind the House that the next duty which we have to perform is that every Member should take and subscribe the oaths prescribed by law.
And thereupon Mr. Speaker first alone, standing upon the upper step of the Chair, took the oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, and delivered to the Clerk of the House an account of his qualification.
Then several Members took the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, and took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, and delivered to the Clerk of the House an account of their qualification.
And then the House adjourned till To-morrow.

Preamble
The House met; and Five of the LORDS COMMISSIONERS, namely, The LORD CHANLOR, the LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL (Earl Granville), The LORD PRIVY SEAL (the Earl of Harrowby),The LORD STEWARD (Earl Spencer), and The DUKE of ARGYLL (Postmaster General)—being in their robes, and seated on a form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, commanded the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know "The Lords' Commissioners desire their "immediate attendance in this House."
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

  PRESENTED AND APPROVED,
  Who being come,
  MR. EVELYN DENISONsaid,
  My Lords,
  I have to acquaint your Lordships that, in obedience to Her Majesty's commands, Her Majesty's faithful Commons, in the exercise of their undoubted right and privilege, have proceeded to the election of a Speaker, and that their choice has fallen upon myself. I now present myself at your Bar, and submit myself with all humility to Her Majesty's gracious approbation.
  THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid,
  Mr. Denison,
  We are commanded by Her Majesty to assure you that Her Majesty is fully sensible of your zeal for the public service, and of your ample sufficiency to discharge the important duties which Her faithful Commons have selected you to discharge, and Her Majesty does most readily approve of and confirms you as their Speaker.
  MR. SPEAKERsaid,
  My Lords,
  With the most profound respect and gratitude I bow to Her Majesty's command; And it is now my duty, in the name and on the behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble Petition, to their undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom from arrest and molestation for their persons and servants, to freedom of speech in debate; and to free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion shall require; and that the most favourable construction shall be put

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  upon all their proceedings. And I have humbly to pray, on my own behalf, that any error that may occur in the discharge of these duties may be imputed to me alone, and not to Her Majesty's faithful Commons.
  THE LORD CHANCELLORsaid,
  Mr. Speaker,
  We have it further in command to inform you, that Her Majesty most readily confirms all the rights and privileges which have been ever granted to or conferred upon Her faithful Commons by any of Her Royal Predecessors.
  With respect to yourself, Sir, though Her Majesty is sensible that 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 upon your words and actions.
  Then the Commons withdrew.
  Several Lords took the oaths.
  The Duke of Norfolk took the oath prescribed by the Act 10th Geo. IV. to be taken by Peers professing the Roman Catholic religion.
  The Right Honourable Charles Shaw Lefevre, having been created Viscount Eversley, was (in the usual manner) introduced, and took the oaths.
  House adjourned at a quarter past Four o'clock, to Monday next, quarter to Four o'clock.