As there is no business before the Senate, is it your pleasure, honourable senators, that the sitting be suspended to await the arrival of His Majesty the King?

Hon. Senators: Agreed.

(The sitting of the Senate was suspended.)

Said:

Usher of the Black Rod,

You will proceed to the House of Commons and acquaint that House that it is the pleasure of His Majesty the King that they attend him immediately in the Senate Chamber.

The House of Commons being come,

Their Speaker, the Honourable Francis Scarpaleggia, said:

May it Please Your Majesty,

The House of Commons has elected me their Speaker, though I am but little able to fulfil the important duties thus assigned to me. If, in the performance of those duties, I should at any time fall into error, I pray that the fault may be imputed to me, and not to the Commons, whose servant I am, and who, through me, the better to enable them to discharge their duty to their King and Country, humbly claim all their undoubted rights and privileges, especially that they may have freedom of speech in their debates, access to Your Majesty’s Person at all seasonable times, and that their proceedings may receive from Your Majesty the most favourable construction.

The Hon. the Speaker of the Senate answered:

Mr. Speaker, I am commanded by His Majesty the King to declare to you that he freely confides in the duty and attachment of the House of Commons to His Majesty’s Person and Government, and not doubting that their proceedings will be conducted with wisdom, temper and prudence, he grants, and upon all occasions will recognize and allow, their constitutional privileges. I am commanded also to assure you that the Commons shall have ready access to His Majesty upon all seasonable occasions and that their proceedings, as well as your words and actions, will constantly receive from him the most favourable construction.