Artist: Frederic Steiger
Portrait Hung: 1951

Election (27 February 1885) and Approbation (28 February 1885) of the Speaker (Journal)

“After which the Hon. Attorney General, addressing himself to the Clerk, who, standing up, pointed to him, and then sat down, moved that Robert Bond Esquire do take the chair as Speaker of this House. Which motion was seconded by the Hon. Receiver General. And the question being put thereon, it was Ordered that Robert Bond, Esquire do take the Chair as Speaker of this House.

Mr. Bond was then conducted to, and placed in the Chair by the Hon. Attorney General and the Hon. Receiver General, when standing on the steps, he addressed the House as follows:

Gentlemen, Before taking my seat as Speaker of this Assembly, I desire to express my sincere thanks for the high honor that you have pleased to confer upon me. With the plainness of a sincere and grateful heart I beg you to believe that I place the proper value upon this public manifestation of your good feeling. I cannot expect to fill this exalted position as my distinguished predecessor has done, his mature judgment, intellectual ability, and complete knowledge of parliamentary practice peculiarly adapted him for the position of Speaker; none of these qualifications do I lay claim to, however, Gentlemen, during the period that I may occupy this position, I shall exercise myself to preserve the dignity of this House and the regularity of debates; I shall endeavor to carry out the orders of this House and its ancient practices creditably, firmly impartially, and I feel assured that I shall receive the support of the whole House.”

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14^th General Assembly, 3^rd Session (27 and 28 February 1885).