"That Francis Cusack, Esquire, member for the Isle of Wight, be elected Speaker of this House." Proposed, A.

Pilbury, Esquire; seconded, L.

Philpot, Esq.
The humour of the last notice was eclipsed by the seriousness of the other two.

It had always been taken for granted that the captain of Willoughby was also the Speaker of the House, and a contested election for that office was without precedent.

Now, however, the old rule was to be challenged; and as the members waited for the clock to strike six they discussed the coming contest among themselves with a solemnity which could hardly have been surpassed in Westminster itself.
The clock sounded at last; every one was in his place.