§ The House then went into Committee of Supply; Mr. Bernal in the chair.
724§ (1.) 1,650l.. Repairing and Fitting Apartments in Holyrood Palace.
LORD SEYMOURsaid, that some apartments in Holyrood had lately become vacant, and they were being prepared for the occasional reception of Her Majesty in passing through Scotland. The vote was only for repairing and painting, and not for furniture.
§ The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERsaid, that it would be a great convenience to Her Majesty in passing through Scotland to be able to sleep in Holyrood, and the apartments which had been given up were to be prepared for that purpose.
§ MR. HUMEthought, that in these days of quick transit, and considering what good hotels there were in Edinburgh, they were commencing an ill-advised expense. Sixteen hundred pounds appeared a small sum; but the Queen could not occupy those apartments without four times that expense being incurred. He thought they were going too far as regarded Royalty and Royal palaces, and they were not the friends of Royalty who brought such acts before the people in these times of depression. If he was satisfied that this sum would be the whole expense he would not say a word, but when it was remembered that when the Queen was in London there was an allowance of 192,000l. for household expenses and 131,000l. for salaries for household servants, besides 14,000l. for the Royal bounty and other sums, there ought to be some consideration shown. He entered his protest against the way they were going on with the public money.
§ COLONEL SIBTHORPsaid, no one could be more anxious than he was to assent to any measures that might promote the comfort and convenience of any branches of the Royal Family, but he thought this was a regular job, got up by parties in Scotland. He would therefore move that the vote be reduced by 800l.
§ LORD J. RUSSELLsaid, the hon. Member for Montrose looked with a proper jealousy on any grant of public money, but he thought he would see that this was not one to be complained of. It was not the commencement of a large expenditure; but there were some rooms vacant in Holyrood Palace, which had been occupied by the Countess of Strathmore. Her Majesty would provide the furniture for these 725 rooms, so that no expense for that purpose would he thrown upon the public. The hon. Member for Montrose seemed to consider this vote an unnecessary expenditure; but he (Lord J. Russell) thought the Committee would not be disposed to blame Her Majesty for visiting the Highlands, when it was known that Her Majesty and the Royal children derived great benefit from a residence in that part of the country. He considered, then, that as on her way to Her residence in the Highlands Her Majesty had to pass through the metropolis of Scotland, where there was a palace which formerly belonged to the Kings of Scotland, Her Majesty might be anxious to occupy apartments in that palace, and he therefore hoped the Committee would assent to this vote.
§ COLONEL SIBTHORPbegged to ask whether Her Majesty had made any request for this grant, or had any knowledge that such a vote would be proposed?
§ LORD J. RUSSELLwould state what had occurred on the subject. He had informed Her Majesty, upon the report of the Duke of Hamilton, the keeper of Holyrood Palace, that the apartments occupied by the Countess of Strathmore were vacant, owing to the decease of that lady; and he asked Her Majesty whether She would wish to occupy those apartments during Her visits to Scotland. Her Majesty informed him that she would wish to occupy those apartments on her way to or from Balmoral. He (Lord J. Russell) then stated, as it was his business to do, that a small outlay would be required for repairs, and be thought, after such an intimation on the part of Her Majesty, that it was the duty of Her Ministers to take care that the rooms were water-tight and fit for Her Majesty's occupation.
§ COLONEL SIBTHORPsaid, that after the noble Lord's explanation he would not say another word against the vote.
§ MR. HUMEsaid, he was far from imputing any blame to Her Majesty, as the noble Lord seemed to suppose he had done. He greatly approved of the tours Her Majesty had taken in various parts of the kingdom; but, as a very liberal sum was allowed to defray the Royal expenditure, and as when Her Majesty was in Scotland her expenditure in this country would be diminished, he had thought this vote objectionable. As it seemed, however, that the grant was merely intended to place the apartments in tenantable 726 repair, and that Her Majesty would provide the requisite furniture, he would not oppose the vote. At the same time, he must say he regretted Her Majesty had not fixed her residence in a better part of the city. He would suggsst that a more desirable and healthy residence might have been found in the new town, or in the Castle.
§ Vote agreed to.