ATTENDANCE OF THE HOUSE AT THE CORONATION. (Hansard, 1 September 1831)

Mr. C. W. Wynn
brought up the Report of the Select Committee appointed to examine how the Members of the House might, with the most conveniency, see their Majesties' Coronation, and what orders were to be observed therein. The Committee reported,

1. "That it will be expedient that the House should assemble at eight of the clock in the morning of the day of their Majesties' Coronation, and that the Members should attend in Court dresses, out of mourning, and that they enter by the great gate of Westminster Hall.

2. "That to secure free passage for the carriages of the Members, Mr. Speaker be requested to issue tickets to such Members as shall apply for the same.

3. "That the names of the counties of the United Kingdom be put into a glass; and that, after Mr. Speaker shall have left the Chair, the same be drawn by the Clerk, and that no Member do presume to go out of the House until the county for which he serves shall have been called; and that, for the more regular proceedings of the Members, Mr. Speaker be requested to stay, after he shall have left the Chair, till all the Members shall have proceeded in the order according to which their counties have been called.

4. "That no Member of this House do remain in or do cross or pass through any part of the passages leading from the door of the Lobby of the House to the 977 gallery prepared for the Members in Westminster Abbey, and that the Serjeant at Arms do keep the said passages clear of Members.

5. "That the Deputy Serjeant at Arms do precede the Members, and conduct them to their seats in the Abbey.

6. "That, when the Members go to the Abbey, they proceed two a-breast, without crowding, through the Members' Waiting Rooms, across St. Margaret's-street, to the Abbey door in Poet's Corner, under a covered way, and so to the gallery prepared for their accommodation over the Altar in the Abbey, and that they return by the same way to the House.

7. "That after nine of the clock in the morning, the passage to the Abbey by Poet's Corner be kept clear for the exclusive use of the Members of the House of Commons until they shall have passed to their seats, and again, after the solemnity shall have been concluded, until they shall have returned to the House."

Mr. Alderman Wood
said, that as Aldermen were generally anxious about their bodily comforts, he supposed that it would be neither disorderly nor inconsistent on his part to inquire whether, as the Committee had reported that Members should be in their places in that House so early as eight o'clock in the morning, they had taken the precaution of providing a breakfast for them.

Mr. James
wished to take that opportunity, as he had not been present last evening when the subject was brought before the House, to express his sentiments with regard to the great expenditure which the estimate for the Coronation would entail on the country.

§ The Speaker
said, that it, would be more regular for the hon. Member to express his opinions on this subject when the Report of the Committee of Supply should be brought up.

Mr. James
said, that the Report of the Committee would not probably be brought up until three or four o'clock in the morning, when all the Reporters would be fast asleep, and when, therefore, it would be perfectly useless to say anything about it.

§ The Speaker
repeated, that the regular time for the hon. Member to express his sentiments with regard to the Estimate in question was, when the Report of the Committee should be brought up.

Mr. James
said, that he held in his 978 hand the printed Estimate, which had been distributed that morning, and that he was not aware that it was to be brought forward last night, or he would have attended in his place.

§ Lord Althorp
said, that the sum total of the Estimate for the Coronation had no relation whatever to the vote to which the House was now called upon to agree. The hon. Gentleman would have an ample opportunity for discussing that Estimate when the Report of the Committee should be presented, but the circumstance to which he had alluded, as inducing him to discuss that Estimate now, was perfectly disorderly.

Mr. James
contended, that he had a perfect right to make the observations which he intended to make with regard to this Estimate, on the present occasion. His observations might not, perhaps, be as palatable within as they would be without that House. It would be just as convenient for the House to hear his observations now as on the occasion of the presentation of the Report of the Committee. The more he considered such a vote as that of 50,000l. for the expense of the Coronation, the more he was convinced—[cries of "Order! order!"]

§ The Speaker,
interrupting the hon. Member, said, he was sure that he must perceive that the general feeling of the House was, that this question should not be discussed on this occasion, but that its discussion should be postponed to the regular opportunity, which would be afforded on the bringing up of the Report of the Committee.

Mr. James
still thought, that it might be just as convenient for the House to hear the observations which he had to make on this occasion. He was about to express opinions in unison with those of some hon. Members about him, at least with those of the hon. member for Middlesex.

Mr. Hume
said, he quite agreed with his hon. friend with regard to the Estimate in question, but he was of opinion, that the proper time for discussing it would be when the Report of the Committee was brought up.

Mr. James
observed, that if it was so exceedingly disagreeable and unpalatable to the House to hear his observations now, he should of course postpone them until three or four o'clock in the morning, when—

Mr. Hume
wished that the Report and the Resolutions of the Committee should be read again, in order to see whether they had acted in strict accordance with former precedents.

Mr. C. W. Wynn
said, that the Committee had strictly followed those precedents which had been adopted at former Coronations.

Mr. Hume
said, that the Coronations of King William 3rd, and of Queen Anne formed the principal precedents for the guidance of the Committee. This was the first time that it was thought necessary to require that the Members of that House should go in Court dresses to the Coronation.

§ Lord Mahon
said, that it was always usual for the Members of that House, when they attended on his Majesty at levee, or on other public and solemn occasions, to go in Court dress. Such a mark of respect was required of every subject who appeared to offer his duty or homage to his Sovereign; and if it were required on even the most ordinary occasions, how much less should it be omitted in concluding a high and solemn compact between the Monarch and the people? When he considered the dignity belonging not only to the office but to the person of the King, he would never consent, more especially in such times as the present, to abate one jot of the outward forms which surrounded the throne. A feeling of respect to his Majesty had hitherto been deeply rooted in the English character, and he trusted never to see the day when that feeling should be lessened, or when the courtly ceremonies which had sprung from it should be laid aside.

Mr. James
wished to know why it was thought necessary that the Members of that House should be in attendance there at eight o'clock in the morning, when, as he understood, the Coronation would not take place until three or four in the afternoon?

Mr. C. W. Wynn
said, that their Majesties would set out with the procession from the Palace at ten o'clock, and it was therefore important, that the Members of that House should be in their places at an early hour.

Mr. Hume
was inclined to move, that that part of the Report which required that the Members of that House should go in livery to the Coronation should be 980 omitted. He was surprised at the innovation which had been introduced by his right hon. friend, the member for Montgomeryshire in this regard. Good God! was it possible, that his right hon. friend, who was such a stickler for past precedents and past usages, should have been he author of such an innovation as that of calling on the Members of that House o attend at the Coronation in Court dresses?

§ The Speaker
was not before aware, that the hon. Member regarded the direction to appear in Court dress as an infringement of the privileges of the House; but the hon. Member should recollect, that the recommendation proceeded from a Committee of the House, and was of no force unless confirmed by the House.

Mr. Hume
knew it was a recommendation of the Committee, but nevertheless he wished that the Livery should be thrown aside altogether.

§ Sir Edward Sugden
said, that a Court dress was the usual dress in which Members appeared on solemn and public occasions, and more especially on such an awful and public occasion as that of the Coronation of the King and Queen of these realms.

Mr. James
said, that it appeared from the Report of the Committee, that 410 places had been reserved for the Members of that House. He wished to know what would become of the remainder of the Members, and whether, if any Members went without Court dresses, they would be excluded?

§ Lord Althorp
said, that the objection started by the hon. Member involved no difficulty in its solution, for that, of course, there was a general understanding that no Member would go unless in Court dress. At the Coronations of King William and of Queen Anne, which had been referred to as precedents, the Members of that House all attended in Court dresses.

Mr. Hume:
The Members of this House then attended in the ordinary dress worn by them on public occasions at that period. They are now called upon to attend in an extraordinary dress.

§ Sir Charles Wetherell
was astonished that the Knight of the Shire for Middlesex should refuse to go in his proper and appropriate costume. The gallant Member should not only wear his bag wig and sword, but he should also go with his spurs on.

Mr. C. W. Wynn
said, that the Court dress had been mentioned in the Resolutions, in order to prevent any misapprehensions on the subject.

§ Sir Charles Forbes
remarked, that only 410 places had been reserved for the accommodation of the 658 Members of that House. He wished to know what was to become of the remaining 248 Members? Were they to be excluded, and, if so, was it the Reformers, or the Anti-reformers, that would be excluded on that occasion?

§ Lord Althorp
was of opinion, that 410 places would afford ample accommodation for all the Members who would attend at the Coronation.