Artist: Frederic Steiger
Portrait Hung: 1951

Election and Approbation of the Speaker (1 January 1833, Journal)

"And the House being returned, Mr. Hoyles, addressing himself to the Clerk, proposed to the House John Bingley Garland, Esq. Member for Trinity Bay, to be their Speaker. And the choice of the House having unanimously fallen upon the said John Bingley Garland, Esq., he stood up in his place, and expressing the sense he had of the honour proposed to be conferred upon him by the House, submitted himself to their choice, and he was taken out of his place by Mr. Hoyles and conducted to, placed in the chair accordingly, whereupon Mr. Speaker elect, addressed the House as follows:

Gentlemen, I am deeply grateful to you for the high honour which you have conferred, no less than the confidence which you have reposed in me, by my unanimous election to the distinguished situation of the Speaker of this Assembly. While, however, I express these sentiments, I cannot but convey to you at the same time, the doubts which I entertain of my own abilities and experience for the proper performance of the functions which attach so important an office. It is not on myself that I place any reliance; but to the Members of this Assembly shall I look for both assistance and support, to enable me to maintain its rights and privileges, and to preserve with impartiality that proper order and regularity which will greatly contribute to give stability to our proceedings as a Legislative Assembly."

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1^st General Assembly, 1^st Session (1 January 1833).