§ MR. REARDENSir, I beg to give Notice that on Monday next I shall ask the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it be true that Her Majesty the Queen has been compelled, through delicate health, to retire from England during the remainder of this Session; and, if so, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government, out of consideration to Her Majesty's health, comfort, and tranquillity, and in the interest of the Royal Family and of Her Majesty's subjects throughout the Empire, and especially of this metropolis [Loud cries of "Order, Order!"], to advise Her Majesty to abdicate? ["Order, order!" "Chair, chair!"]
§ MR. SPEAKERThe House has anticipated my decision by the expression—the indignant expression of feeling with regard to the terms employed in the Notice of the hon. Member. No doubt Questions may be addressed by a Member of this House to the confidential Advisers of the Crown as to any matter relating to the discharge of public duties by the Sovereign; but these questions must be addressed in respectful and Parliamentary terms. The Question of the hon. Member is not couched in such terms, and cannot be put.
§ MR. REARDENI beg very earnestly to apologize to the House for putting a Question in any form of words which is either un-Parliamentary or not in strict accordance with the views of this House. 712 ["Order!"] Nothing can be further from my views, mind, or heart, than to do anything inconsistent with strict loyalty to Her Majesty. ["Order!" "Chair!"]