HC Deb 03 February 1840 vol 51 cc1103-4
Sir R. Inglis

rose, and said he wished to make inquiry of her Majesty's Government respecting the truth of a report which was pretty current, that the whole of the establishment of his Serene Highness Prince Albert had been already framed, and the various offieer-s appointed? Either that report was correct or incorrect. If correct, and it could be stated the arrangements were consistent with the al- lowance made to his Serene Highness and his own wishes, he would stop at once. But if the reverse was the case, and a Master of the Horse, and other unnecessary officers were to be appointed, he thought, not merely that the House of Commons, and Parliament generally, had been unfairly dealt with, but that his Serene Highness had a good right to complain. To the House it might be a matter of indifference who were the officers of his Serene Highness, and what were their salaries and emoluments; but it could not be so to the Prince himself, if he were saddled with the salaries of officers without duties to perform, and more especially if the officers of his establishment were to be removable at the will of the Ministers. He thought the Prince should be left to use his own discretion in the selection of his officers, and he hoped he was not assuming more than the fact when he hoped that her Majesty's advisers would concur in that opinion.

Lord John Russell

said, that he was not aware that any establishment had been fixed, or any person appointed. There might be one or two persons named, but the entire arrangements were in abeyance until his Serene Highness's pleasure was known, with whom alone the appointments rested, upon his arrival in England, when every thing connected with his establishment would be subject to his own inspection and approval.