§ SIR ROBERT CLIFTONsaid, be rose to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether there is any truth in the statement in The Times of yesterday, that he has written to the authorities of the City as to changing the ceremonial upon the reception of the Princess Alexandra?
§ SIR GEORGE GREY—No, Sir; I have not given any instructions for changing any ceremonial that I was informed had been adopted for the reception of Her Royal Highness in this country. But I will state what has taken place. My endeavour has been, acting in obedience to Her Majesty's commands, and in concert with those whoso duty it is to take a share in making arrangements for the reception of Her Royal Highness, that those arrangements should be such as best to gratify the very general and laudable desire to do honour to Her Royal Highness on her arrival. Sonic time ago, I informed the Lord Mayor that the Princess Alexandra, accompanied by the Prince of Wales and her Royal parents, the Prince and Princess of Denmark, would drive through the City of London and the metropolis, en route from Gravesend to Windsor Castle. I may state that this is not intended to be what is technically called a State Procession; Her Royal Highness and suite will drive from the railway station in six open Royal carriages, if the weather should fortunately permit, attended by an escort of Life Guards. When this became known, a very general desire was evinced, not only by the authorities of the City of London—who are always prominent in every loyal demonstration—but by the local authorities of other parts of the metropolis through which the route will lie, to take a part in the demonstration which would express their loyal attachment to the Throne, and their 875 desire to do honour to the Princess. With this view, it was proposed that the civic and municipal authorities through whose respective jurisdictions Her Royal Highness will pass, should, within the limits of their respective jurisdictions, be allowed the fullest opportunity of co-operating in the proceedings of the day. In consequence of a request urged upon me by a deputation from the Borough of Southwark, it has been arranged that the High Bailiff of Southwark, attended, as I have no doubt he will be, by the two representatives of that borough, and by some other official persons, should be present on the arrival of the Princess Alexandra at the Bricklayers' Arms station of the South Eastern Railway, which lies within the precincts of the borough of Southwark. The Lord Mayor having expressed a wish that he and the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex should also be present at the station, that wish was at once acceded to, subject only to the condition that the long line of carriages that it is understood will convey the other authorities of the City, and the representatives of the different London Companies, should not join at the station, which is beyond the municipal boundary, but should meet the Royal carriages at the limits of their jurisdiction at London Bridge, and should accompany them throughout the whole line of the City to its western extremity at Temple Bar. It is also proposed, in consequence of another request, which it seemed only reasonable to grant, that the Court of Burgesses of the City of Westminster—headed, as I am informed, by the Duke of Buccleuch, the High Steward of the borough, and accompanied by the Dean and other dignitaries, should take the place of the City authorities at this point, and attend Her Royal Highness during that further portion of her route which lies within their jurisdiction. In compliance with other applications, the carriages of a limited number of representatives of the different parishes through which the Royal procession will pass, will be afforded the-opportunity of taking part in this loyal demonstration. A difficulty, no doubt, arose in consequence of the wish of the civic authorities not to stop when they reached the western limits of the City at Temple Bar. On the other hand, if they are suffered, with a long line of carriages, to precede the Royal Procession throughout the western portion of 876 the route, there must be a material interference with other authorities beyond the City limits, who had an equal desire and an equal right to take part in the proceedings of the day. It has, however, been intimated to the Lord Mayor by the Lord Chamberlain, that provided arrangements can be made—and no doubt they will be made, if all parties heartily concur—whereby on their arrival at the western confines of the City the metropolitan authorities, having led the way so far, give place to the other authorities, who will then take up the procession at that point, no interference at all will be made with the order in which the civic dignitaries may wish to follow. I believe, under these circumstances, the arrangements will be such as not only to secure to the inhabitants of the metropolis generally the best opportunity of witnessing and welcoming the arrival of the Princess in London, but will also give to all parties concerned, without favour or partiality, the full advantage of sharing in the proceedings of the day, which I trust will be as gratifying to the Princess Alexandra as I am sure they will be to all the loyal subjects of Her Majesty in the metropolis.
§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERasked whether the City authorities would be allowed to go beyond Temple Bar?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYNot as preceding the procession. I should state that an application was made on the part of the Sheriffs of London, who are also Sheriffs of Middlesex and have jurisdiction beyond the City, to continue in their place in the procession, and their request has been acceded to.
§ MR. LOCKEsaid, unfortunately he was not in the House when the right hon. Baronet made his statement. He wished clearly to understand what would be the position of the Borough he had the honour to represent relatively to the authorities of the City of London, and with regard to what the City of London is to do there.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI thought I had already sufficiently explained that the High Bailiff of Southwark, attended by some of the authorities of that Borough, and I Believe by my hon. and learned Friend who has just sat down, and his colleague, will be in attendance within the station at the Bricklayers' Arms, there to receive Her Royal Highness. The details are, of course, to be arranged with the Directors, but full information will be given them; and I believe a number of 877 carriages, not to exceed six in the whole, will accompany the Royal carriages as far as London Bridge. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, having been present on the arrival of Royal personages at that station on previous occasions, will also be permitted to attend. I do not know whether the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs claim to have any jurisdiction in Southwark; but, I believe, they appoint the High Bailiff of Southwark, and as their claim to be present has been conceded in former instances, I have thought there could be no objection to their being in attendance at the station on the arrival of the Princess. The same permission has been given to the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and the Representatives of that county.
§ MR. LOCKEThe question of precedence does not appear to have been settled. It is not stated whether the Borough of Southwark is to lead the cavalcade to the bridge.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI have no doubt I shall he able to satisfy my hon. and learned Friend if he will communicate with me out of the House.