House of Lords Journal Volume 63: 15 June 1831

Die Mercurii, 15° Junii 1831.

DOMINI tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

D. of Gloucester takes the Oaths.

His Royal Highness William Frederick Duke of Gloucester took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

The House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

Mr. Manners Sutton, Speaker of H. C. approved of.

Then Four of the Lords Commissioners, being in their Robes, and seated on a Form placed between the Throne and the Woolsack, The Lord Chancellor in the Middle, with The Lord President and The Duke of Richmond on his Right Hand, and The Lord Privy Seal on his Left; commanded the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod to let the Commons know, "The Lords Commissioners desire their immediate Attendance in this House."

Who being come,

Mr. Manners Sutton said,

"My Lords,

"I have to acquaint your Lordships, that, in obedience to His Majesty's Commands, His Majesty's faithful Commons, in the Exercise of their undoubted Privilege, have proceeded to the Election of a Speaker, and that their Choice has fallen upon me.

"My Lords, I am well aware of the many Difficulties of that high Station; Fourteen Years Experience in that Station have proved to me, in many Cases, my own Insufficiency; should it, however, be His Majesty's Pleasure to disapprove of this Choice, doubtless His Majesty's faithful Commons will be enabled at once to elect some other Member better qualified to undertake the Duties of so arduous an Office."

Then The Lord Chancellor said,

"Mr. Manners Sutton,

"We have it in Command to assure you, that His Majesty, relying altogether upon your constant Zeal for the Public Service, your tried Sufficiency in respect of long and varied Experience, deep Learning in the Forms of Proceedings of the Commons, constant Impartiality and Firmness, united with Temper, to discharge the arduous Duties of that Office, entirely approves of the Choice which His faithful Commons have made of you to be their Speaker in this Parliament."

Then Mr. Speaker said,

"My Lords,

"With the deepest Gratitude, and all Respect and Humility, I submit myself to His Majesty's gracious Decision: and it now becomes my Duty, my Lords, in the Name of the Commons, to lay claim, by humble Petition, to all their ancient and undoubted Rights and Privileges; more especially those of Freedom from Arrest and Molestation of themselves, their Servants and Estates; Freedom in Debate; free Access to His Majesty whenever Occasion may require; that the most favorable Constructions should be put upon all their Proceedings; and, my Lords, in Conclusion, I have to implore that if any Error be committed, it may be attributed to myself individually, and not to His Majesty's faithful Commons."

Then The Lord Chancellor said,

"Mr. Speaker,

"We have it further in Command from His Majesty to assure you and His faithful Commons, that His Majesty doth most willingly grant and confirm unto the Commons of the Realm all their ancient and undoubted Rights and Privileges Time out of Mind by them heretofore enjoyed; and, although His Majesty is fully sensible that you yourself individually stand not in anywise in need of it, yet His Majesty will at all Times be ready and willing to put the most favorable Construction upon your, as well as their Words and Actions."

Then the Commons withdrew, and the House was adjourned during Pleasure, to unrobe.

The House was resumed.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes:

Henry Duke of Newcastle.

William Basil Percy Earl of Denbigh.

Richard Lumley Earl of Scarbrough.

Charles Augustus Earl of Tankerville.

Henry Stephen Earl of Ilchester.

Hugh Earl Fortescue.

Richard Earl of Lucan.

Archibald Earl of Gosford.

Henry Earl of Harewood.

William Carr Viscount Beresford.

Charles Richard Lord Bishop of Winchester.

Henry Lord Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry.

Archibald Lord Douglas of Douglas.

George Gough Lord Calthorpe.

Robert Lord Carrington.

Thomas Lord Ribblesdale.

John Lord Loftus.

George Augustus Frederick Charles Lord Sheffield.

Lords take the Oaths.

This Day William Francis Henry Lord Petre and George William Stafford Lord Stafford severally took and subscribed the Oath appointed to be taken by the Act of the Tenth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty, by Peers professing the Roman Catholic Religion.

E. of Mulgrave takes his Seat.

This Day Constantine Henry Earl of Mulgrave sat first in Parliament after the Death of his Father Henry Earl of Mulgrave; his Lordship having first, at the Table, taken the Oaths, and also taken and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes:

William Henry Cavendish Duke of Portland.

John Earl of Mayo.

Henry Welbore Lord Mendip.

George Lord Ross.

E. of Munster introduced.

George Fitz Clarence Esquire being, by Letters Patent bearing Date the 4th Day of June, in the First Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, created Earl of Munster, with Remainder to the Heirs Male of his Body; and, in default of such Issue, with a Limitation to Frederick Fitz Clarence Esquire, and the Heirs Male of his Body; and, in default of such Issue, to Adolphus Fitz Clarence Esquire, and the Heirs Male of his Body; and, in default of such Issue, to Augustus Fitz Clarence Clerk, and the Heirs Male of his Body, was (in his Robes) introduced between The Earl of Denbigh and The Earl of Romney, (also in their Robes,) the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod and Garter King of Arms preceding: His Lordship, on his Knee, presented his Patent to The Lord Chancellor at the Woolsack, who delivered it to the Clerk, and the same was read at the Table.

His Writ of Summons was also read as follows; (viz ^t.)

"William the Fourth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith; To Our dearly beloved Natural Son George Earl of Munster, Greeting: Whereas by the Advice and Assent of Our Council, for certain arduous and urgent Affairs concerning Us, the State and Defence of Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Church, We have ordered a certain Parliament to be holden at Our City of Westminster on the Fourteenth Day of this instant June, and there to treat and have Conference with the Prelates, Great Men and Peers of Our Realm; We, strictly injoining, command you, upon the Faith and Allegiance by which you are bound to Us, that, the Weightiness of the said Affairs and imminent Perils considered, (waving all Excuses,) you be at the said Day and Place personally present with Us, and with the said Prelates, Great Men and Peers, to treat and give your Council upon the Affairs aforesaid; and this, as you regard Us and Our Honour, and the Safety and Defence of the said Kingdom and Church, and the Dispatch of the said Affairs, in no wise do you omit.

"Witness Ourself at Westminster, the Fourth Day of June, in the First Year of Our Reign.

"Bathurst."

Then his Lordship, at the Table, took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes; and was afterwards placed on the lower End of the Earls' Bench.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes:

Arthur Duke of Wellington.

George Thomas John Marquess of Westmeath.

George Earl of Jersey.

William Earl of Dartmouth.

James Earl Graham.

Henry Richard Earl Brooke and Earl of Warwick.

James Earl of Rosslyn.

Richard Earl of Clancarty.

John Earl of Morley.

Richard Earl of Glengall.

Henry Viscount Bolingbroke and St. John.

Richard Lord Bishop of Oxford.

Thomas Robert Lord Hay.

D. of Sussex takes the Oaths.

His Royal Highness Augustus Frederick Duke of Sussex, singly, took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes:

George Henry Duke of Grafton.

Washington Earl Ferrers.

Henry Viscount Hood.

Fletcher Lord Grantley.

E. of Coventry takes his Seat.

This Day George William Earl of Coventry sat first in Parliament after the Death of his Father George William Earl of Coventry; his Lordship having first, at the Table, taken the Oaths, and also taken and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took, the Oaths, and also took and subscribed the Oath of Abjuration, pursuant to the Statutes:

Alexander Duke of Brandon.

George Augustus Francis Marquess of Hastings.

Thomas William Viscount Anson.

Henry John Lord Selsey.

David Montagu Lord Erskine.

Charles Rose Lord Seaford.

Adjourn.

Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Jovis, decimum sextum diem instantis Junii, horâ undecimâ Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.