§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERsaid, it appeared that the object of leaving the Lord Mayor and the City authorities at Temple Bar was to enable the procession to proceed at a rapid pace to Paddington. He wished, therefore, to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, having regard to the desire of the Citizens of London to show all possible respect to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Denmark, and the wish of the public outside the City to see the full solemnity of the Procession next Saturday, arrangements will be made for the Lord Mayor and the City Procession to attend Her Royal Highness as far as Paddington?
§ CAPTAIN STACPOOLEsaid, he would beg to ask, whether any provision has been made for Members of that House to join in the procession?
§ SIR GEORGE GREY—Sir, it is the first time I have either heard or seen it 1068 stated that the procession is to proceed at a rapid rate from Temple Bar. I thought I had explained clearly on Friday night that the City authorities would take precedence to Temple Bar, and that they would then give place to the other local authorities, who had an equal right with the civic authorities to take precedence in their own district. The Lord Chamberlain, through whom the communications with the City have been chiefly carried on, has informed me that he has received a communication from the City authorities expressive of their satisfaction with the arrangements that have been made. They have been finally concluded with the concurrence of all the persons who, from their local connections, are entitled to take part in them. To make any change now in the arrangements would only introduce disorder and confusion. In answer to the hon. and gallant Gentleman (Captain Stacpoole), I have to say that no place has been assigned to this House in the procession. With the exception of the carriages forming the Royal cortége, only those will take part in the procession who, from their local position or jurisdiction, are fairly entitled to do so.
§ SIR GEORGE BOWYERsaid, he wished to know what arrangement had been made with the civic procession, and whether it was to go beyond Temple Bar?
§ SIR GEORGE GREY—The civic authorities will not go beyond Temple Bar. Their place will then be taken by the other authorities, who will conduct the Royal party to Paddington.
§ MR. WALTERsaid, that many persons were anxious to obtain information as to the arrangements for passenger and other traffic through the streets on the night of the illumination. Would carriages be excluded from the streets on that night?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYCarriages will not be excluded from the streets on the night of the illumination. I have communicated with the Chief Commissioner of Police, and he says he is endeavouring to make arrangements by which an open space will be kept in the centre of the street for carriages which may be conveying persons wishing to pass from one part of London to another, while on each side, where the street is wide enough, there will be a string of carriages containing persons wishing to see the illuminations. These two lines of carriages will be going, one in one direction and one in another.
§ MR. PAULLsaid, he would beg to ask whether it is distinctly understood that the civic procession is to stop entirely at Temple Bar, or whether it will follow in the rear?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYThat must depend very much on the City authorities. There would be no objection to their following the procession, but I believe the Lord Mayor does not intend to do so. The Sheriffs of London, being also Sheriffs of Middlesex, will retain their place in the procession, and accompany it to Paddington.
§ MR. BUXTONsaid, he wished to know whether carriages and horsemen will be admitted into the park?
MR. COWPERsaid, it had been settled that only the Royal carriages would be allowed to pass in the centre of the Park between the lines of the Volunteers. It was expected that a large number of persons would be in the park on foot, and it would not be desirable to allow persons on horseback to ride on the grass with the exception of officers on duty with the Volunteers or persons immediately connected with the Royal procession.
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI have just received information that an offer was made to the City authorities stating that they might follow the procession if they pleased from Temple Bar to Paddington. They replied, that if they could not precede it, they would go no further than Temple Bar.