HC Deb 15 June 1837 vol 38 cc1481-3
Mr. Grantley Berkeley

considered it his duty to press this question not only on account of its merits, but also because resolutions in favour of it had been formerly come to and reported to that House, and he did not think these should be set aside by evasion and delay. He called on the House to assert its just prerogative, and carry these resolutions into effect; for if they did not they would afford a precedent for setting aside other resolutions of more grave consideration. The subject was so well understood that he need not enter further into it. One circumstance in this case certainly appeared rather odd, and that was, that numbers who formerly opposed it had now so widely changed, that while he would have been satisfied with a grant of 280l., they were disposed to grant 400l., for what purpose he could not see, unless to create enemies to the measure. He thought, however, no one would object to set apart a portion of the gallery for the ladies. As to the presence of ladies being objectionable, he would ask, when they had a bouquet of flowers in their chamber, did they not find the air sweeter? He would move an "address to his Majesty, praying that he will be graciously pleased to give directions for the immediate carrying into effect the recommendation of the Select Committee appointed in 1835, relating to the best means of setting apart a portion of the strangers' gallery for the admittance of ladies, both in the present and the new Houses of Parliament."

Captain Chetwynd

thought the measure reflected great credit on the gallant mover, and he had no doubt it would be carried by a large majority. A Committee had been appointed who reported in favour of the ladies, and their recommendation when proposed to the House, was rejected by the smallest majority. On a later occasion the House agreed to the resolution proposed by his gallant Friend. He trusted that resolution would be adhered to by a reformed Parliament. It was urged against the measure, that ladies had no desire whatever to attend; but could that be said with truth, when, in the old House, they condescended to sit down in a place called the lantern—a treatment quite disgraceful on the part of the House; and if the ladies were ready to sacrifice their comfort to gratify their curiosity by viewing the proceedings of the House secretly, how much more gratifying to them would it be to be allowed to do so openly: another objection was, that the presence of the ladies would lengthen the debate, and induce Members to enlarge on subjects, and cause consirable delay. But he thought hon. Members would be less likely to talk nonsense in the presence of ladies, and secondly, he was convinced that those personal and severe animadversions which he regretted so frequently took place in that House would be considerably abated, if not altogether avoided. Their admission, therefore, would tend to facilitate rather than retard the business of the House, Ladies were admissible into the other House of Parliament, whose rights and privileges he should be always ready to advocate and support; but if their Lordships should lay claim to a greater degree of gallantry than that House, he should feel very jealous of them. With these views he begged leave to second the motion of his gallant Friend.

The House divided:—Ayes 92;—Noes 116: Majority 24.

List of the AYES.
Aglionby, H. A. Lefroy, Anthony
Bagshaw, J. Lennox, Lord George
Ball, N. Lennox, Lord Arthur
Baring, F. T. Maher, J.
Barnard, E. G. Miller, W. H.
Barron, H. W. Molesworth, Sir W.
Bateson, Sir R. Musgrave, Sir R.
Berkeley, hon. F. Nagle, Sir R.
Berkeley, hon. C. O'Connell, D.
Bernal, R. O'Connell, J.
Bewes, T. O'Connell, M. J.
Bish, T. O'Connor, Don
Blake, M. J. O'Ferrall, R. M.
Boldero, H. G. Parrott, J.
Bowring, Dr. Parry, Sir L. P. J.
Brady, D. C. Pechell, Captain
Bridgman, H. Polhill, Captain F.
Brodie, W. B. Poulter, J. S.
Brotherton, J. Power, J.
Buller, C. Richards, R.
Castlereagh, Viscount Robinson, G. R.
Chapman, L. Roche, W.
Chichester, A. Roebuck, J. A.
Clayton, Sir W. Ruthven, E.
Cowper, hon. F. Seale, Col.
Crawford, W. S. Sheil, R. L.
Darlington, Earl of Sibthorp, Colonel
Dick, Q. Smith, B.
Divett, E. Strickland, Sir Geo.
Dundas, J. D. Talbot, J. H.
Eaton, R. J. Thomas, Colonel
Etwall, Ralph Thompson, Colonel
Fenton, J. Tulk, C. A.
Fergusson, R. C. Twiss, H.
Freshfield, J. W. Vigors, N. A.
Gaskell, Daniel Villiers, C. P.
Gaskell, James Milnes Wakley, T.
Goring, H. D. Ward, H. G.
Grattan, H. Wason, R.
Grote, G. Westenra, H. R.
Guest, J. J. Whalley, Sir S.
Hawkes, T. Whitmore, T. C.
Hay, Sir A. L. Williams, W.
Hindley, C. Williams, W. A.
Hogg, J. W.
Hume, J. TELLERS.
Humphery, John Berkeley, G.
Jervis, John Chetwynd, Captain
List of the NOES.
Angerstein, J. Bailey, J.
Arbuthnott, H. Barclay, C.
Bentinck, Lord W. Mackenzie, T.
Blunt, Sir C. Mackinnon, W. A.
Borthwick, Peter Mactaggart, J.
Branston, T. W. Mangles, J.
Brownrigg, S. Manners, Lord C. S.
Buller, Sir J. Y. Marsland, T.
Burrell, Sir C. Maule, hon. F.
Chaplin, Colonel Maunsell, T. P.
Chapman, A. Mordaunt, Sir J.
Chisholm, A. W. Morpeth, Viscount
Clive, Edward Bolton Mosley, Sir O.
Colborne, N. W. R. Packe, C. W.
Cole, Viscount Parker, M.
Collins, W. Patten, J. W.
Conolly, E. M. Pattison, J.
Corbett, T. G. Philips, G. R.
Corry, rt. hon. H. Ponsonby, J.
Crawley, S. Pusey, P.
Crewe, Sir G. Rooper, J. B.
Dillwyn, L. W. Ross, Charles
Dugdale, W. S. Rushout, G.
Dundas, hon. T. Russell, C.
Ebrington, Viscount Russell, Lord John
Ellice, E. Ryle, J.
Elphinstone, H. Sanford, E. A.
Fazakerly, J. N. Scott, J. W.
Fergus, J. Seymour, Lord
Ferguson, Sir R. Sharpe, General
Ferguson, R. Shaw, rt. hon. F.
Fitzroy, Lord C. Sheppard, T.
Fitzroy, hon. H. Sinclair, Sir George
Folkes, Sir W. Somerset, Lord G.
Forster, C. S. Stanley, Lord
Fremantle, Sir T. Stanley, W. O.
Goulburn, H. Stuart, Lord J.
Goulburn, Sergeant Stuart, V.
Graham, Sir J. Strutt, E.
Grey, hon. Col. Thomson, C. P.
Hamilton, Geo. A. Tooke, W.
Harcourt, G. S. Trevor, hon. A.
Heathcote, G. J. Verney, Sir H.
Herries, hon. J. Vivian, J. E.
Hillsborough, Earl of Walker, Richard
Hodges, T. L. Wallace, R.
Hope, J. Warburton, H.
Houstoun, G. Wemyss, Captain
Howard, P. H. West, J. B.
James, W. Weyland, Major
Johnstone, Sir J. Wilbraham, E.
Irton, Samuel Williams, R.
King, E. B. Williams, Sir J.
Knight, H. G. Wodehouse, E.
Labouchere, H. Young, G. F.
Lemon, Sir C. Young, J.
Longfield, R.
Lowther, J. H. TELLERS.
Lushington, C. Loch, J
Lygon, hon. Gen. Stanley, E. J.