§ Mr. Grantly Berkeleyinquired whether it was the intention of Government to make provision for the accommodation of ladies in the Strangers' gallery, in pursuence of the report of the Select Committee, approved by the House, before the first of June, because in that case he should beg to withdraw the motion of which he had given notice, for an address to his Majesty on the subject this evening.
§ Lord John Russelldid not think it advisable that the question should again be submitted to debate and division, the resolutions of the hon. Member having been already twice acceded to by the House; and accordingly Government was ready to propose an estimate on the subject. Still it was out of his power to fix the 1st of June for the completion of the arrangements; indeed, he did not very well see how they could be completed before the recess.
§ Sir Edward Knatchbullhad the misfortune on this subject to differ in opinion from the hon. Member for West Glocester-shire; the question, he contended, should again undergo consideration in Committee, and when the estimate was submitted to the House, it would be quite competent for hon. Members to negative the whole proposition.
§ Lord John Russelldid not, of course, mean to preclude the adoption of that course. The view he took of the question was, that the House having twice affirmed the resolution that the gallery should be erected, the Government should, in deference to that decision, propose an estimate 813 on the subject, in order to carry into effect what he presumed were the wishes of the House in that respect; although he confessed (as might indeed appear from the votes he had already given), if he had merely followed his own judgment in the matter, he should most willingly have seen the hon. Member (Mr. G. Berkeley) in a minority.
§ Sir Robert Inglisexpressed a hope, that as the House had once negatived the proposition last Session, when it came to be re-considered in Committee, it would still meet a similar fate.
§ Subject dropped.