HC Deb 26 April 1866 vol 182 c2176

SIR GEORGE GREY moved that the Lords' Amendments to this Bill be agreed to. The Amendments made in the Preamble, and in the first and sixth clauses, were perfectly harmless, and the House would do well to agree to them. He must express his satisfaction that by this Bill all distinction of religious creeds in that House was henceforth abolished. Members could now come to the table and take one single oath, that of allegiance to the Sovereign, without any distinction of religion. His satisfaction was increased when he remembered that this Act would be passed by the general concurrence of both Houses, and of both the great parties in the State.

MR. WHALLEY moved an Amendment to insert after the words "heirs and successors," the words "being Protestant." The Bill, as at present framed, attested Her Majesty's supremacy, and the House of Commons had no power to deal with it. Upon the marriage of Her Majesty, the Duke of Wellington caused these words to be inserted in the settlement; but on the marriage of the Prince of Wales, Lord Palmerston stated that the Protestantism of the Crown would not be affected.

The Amendment, not being seconded, was not put.

Lords' Amendments agreed to.