*MR. SPEAKER ELECT: My Lords, 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 that their choice has fallen upon myself. I therefore present myself at your Lordships' bar, and humbly submit myself for Her Majesty's gracious approbation.

THE LORD CHANCELLOR: Mr. Gully, we are commanded to assure you that Her Majesty is so fully sensible of your zeal in the public service and of your ample sufficiency to execute the arduous duties which her faithful Commons have selected you to discharge, that she does most readily approve and confirm you as their Speaker.

*MR. SPEAKER: I submit myself with all humility to Her Majesty's gracious commands; and now, my Lords, it is my duty, in the name and on behalf of the Commons of the United Kingdom, to lay claim, by humble petition to Her Majesty, to all their ancient and undoubted rights and privileges, especially to freedom of speech in debate, freedom from arrest, and free access to Her Majesty whenever occasion may require, and that the most favourable construction may be put upon all their proceedings. As to myself, I humbly pray that if, in the discharge of my duty, I should inadvertently fall into any error, the blame may be imputed to myself alone, and not to Her Majesty's most faithful Commons.

REPRESENTATIVE PEER FOR

IRELAND.

RE-ELECTION OF MINISTERS.

The Commons, who were sent for, being at the Bar with their Speaker, the Lord Chancellor delivered the Speech of the Lords Commissioners to both Houses of Parliament, signifying Her Majesty's pleasure that an opportunity be now given to issue writs for supplying the vacancies occasioned in the House of Commons owing to the acceptance of office from the Crown by Members of that House: Then the Commons withdrew.

Several Lords took the oath.

House adjourned at Four of the clock to Thursday next, Two of the clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Tuesday, 4th December, 1900.

The House met at Twelve of the clock, Mr. Speaker Elect taking the Chair.

ELECTION OF SPEAKER.

Message to attend the Lords Commissioners by Black Rod.

Mr. SPEAKER reported, That the House had been in the House of Peers, where Her Majesty was pleased, pleased, by Her Majesty's Commissioners, to approve of

B

An Asterisk (*) at the commencement of a Speech indicates revision by the Member.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

Thursday, 6th December, 1900.

HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.

The Commons being at the Bar, with their Speaker, the LORD CHANCELLOR delivered Her Majesty's Speech to both Houses of Parliament: Then the Commons withdrew.

House adjourned during pleasure.
House resumed.

REPRESENTATIVE PEERS FOR

SCOTLAND.

The LORD CHANCELLOR acquainted the

House that the Clerk of the Parliaments had received (by post) from the Lord Clerk Register of Scotland, Minutes of the meeting held on the 5th of October last of the Peers of Scotland for the election of their representatives to sit and vote in the ensuing Parliament of the United Kingdom; and also, Return by the Lord Clerk Register of Scotland concerning Titles of Peerages called at the said meeting, in right of which respectively no vote had been received and counted for fifty years last past as at the date of the said meeting: Ordered that the said Minutes of Election, &c., printed. (No. 1.)

be

any

that could be

that forbearance and indulgence which is always extended to those who address this House for the first time, and which I feel very greatly in need of. I esteem it a great honour in being permitted to address the House on this occasion-on the commencement of a new Parliament, and at the close of the war in South Africa. I think we can now safely say that the end of the war is in view, though it has lasted a great deal longer than any of us anticipated a year ago. During the whole time the work of the troops has been arduous and continuous, and it has been bravely and willingly borne. For the first time the Volunteers have made their mark upon military history, and, above all, the colonies have come forward in a most marvellous manner. That, I think, is one of the most cheering features of the war; for, whatever else may come out of this war, we know now that the colonies are for all time united with the motherland. We have lately had an opportunity of reading Lord Roberts's farewell to his troops. That farewell is a finer testimony to the good conduct and character of uttered by me in this House, and it is an those troops than ample reply to the criticisms which have been passed upon their conduct, and upon the disciplinary measures which have been adopted when cases of "sniping," as it is called, or of breaking up the railways have occurred. I cannot see how anything else could have been done in a country which is infested with sedition. The first duty of a general is to his own troops; and if danger to them can be averted by inflicting punishment of this kind upon the enemy, I conceive that it is his duty to inflict that punishment. It is a trite saying that all war is cruel; but I feel confident that the conduct of the war in South Africa will compare very favourably indeed with other wars that have taken place between civilised nations during the past century. I think your Lordships will agree with me that a stern and even justice is the best in the end. It is far more likely to bring about peace-for the time for mediation has long since passed. When peace is established there will come the question of the settlement of the war. Many valuable lives have been lost; but I venture to say that they will not have been spent in vain if a satisfactory settlement is attained. No settlement will be D