§ Viscount Melbourne, in rising to move the committal of the bill, for the naturalization of Prince Albert, was anxious to address a few words to their Lord-ships. He was anxious that the bill should pass with all possible speed, and with as little opposition and discussion as possible, but from his communications he was so fearful of commencing an argument on this subject, that he had determined to leave out all relating to the precedence of Prince Albert, and to reduce the bill to that which the noble Duke had said he had imagined it to be, a simple naturalization bill, leaving the question of precedence to be settled at some other time.
Lord Broughamhad previously risen, not for the purpose of interrupting his noble Friend, but merely to ask, whether what he were about to state would be likely to lead to a debate because he had some petitions of the utmost importance to present, as they affected the liberty of the subject; but he found his noble Friend had most judiciously taken the course he had intimated, and therefore it mattered not whether the petitions were presented before or after. He wished to ask his noble Friend, whether he intended to content himself with giving up this point altogether, or whether he intended merely to postpone it. He also wished to know, whether there was any intention to take advantage of the doubtful state of the common law on this subject, and to attempt to accomplish this object by the exercise of the prerogative, without bringing the matter before Parliament. It was exceedingly desirable, that the matter should be settled by enactment, as then the judgment of Parliament could be obtained on the subject, as the common law on the subject of the exercise of the prerogative, as party precedence was full of doubt and obscurity.
§ Bill went into Committee. On the precedence clause being proposed.
Lord Broughamsaid, that as no precedence had been settled for the illustrious person in question by Act of Parliament, he wished to know if it was the intention to take advantage of the doubtful state of the law on the subject to exercise the prerogative of the Crown, as he conceived that would be a course full of difficulty.
§ Viscount Melbourne.—Nothing has as yet been determined.
The Marquess of Londonderrysaid, that unfortunately he had been the person who had first brought the subject forward, but he thought, that as the question had been brought forward, something ought to be done for the satisfaction of the House and the country. He was certain, that such was the feeling entertained throughout this country towards the illustrious personage on the Throne, that every one would be always ready to grant precedence to her husband, but when the noble Viscount hail stated, that the plan proposed had met with the acquiescence of certain other illustrious personages, he thought it was but right, that such acquiescence should have been entered on the Journals of the House.
§ The Bill went through Committee.
§ Report brought up, Bill read a third time and passed.