§ Mr. Halseysaid, that as reports had been spread respecting the intended marriage of her royal highness the Princess Charlotte of Wales, he wished to know from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he had any communication to make to the House on this most important subject?
The Chancellor of the Exchequersaid, that it would be improper for him to say any thing on this delicate subject, as he had no commands to make any communication 461 respecting it. The communication would, of course, be made without delay, as soon as such a step became proper.
§ Mr. Whitbreadobserved, that it was extraordinary, that the important step which had been determined on, should first have been communicated by a foreign prince to his subjects, before it had been noticed to the House of Commons. In this, as on other occasions, they had been treated with great disrespect. Taking it for granted that the sovereign prince of the Netherlands had not told an untruth, he hoped that when the communication was made (which of course must be made, with a view to the necessary pecuniary arrangements), it would be accompanied with a recommendation to adopt such legislative provisions as might secure her Royal Highness from being taken out of the kingdom and detained from it, in a manner which might be extremely detrimental to the interests of the kingdom, and which might occur without such enactment.