HC Deb 28 July 1873 vol 217 cc1096-8

Message from Her Majesty brought up, and read by Mr. Speaker (all the Members being uncovered), as follows:—

VICTORIA R.

Her Majesty having agreed to a Marriage proposed between His Royal Highness Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Kent, Earl of Ulster, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe Coburg and Gotha, and Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna, only daughter of His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias, has thought fit to communicate it to the House of Commons.

The numerous proofs which the Queen has received from Her faithful Commons of their Loyalty to the Throne, and of their attachment to Her Person and Family, leaves Her Majesty no doubt of their readiness to enable Her Majesty to make a further provision for His Royal Highness.

V.R.

MR. BRUCE

In the absence of my right hon. Friend at the head of the Government, owing to indisposition, which I hope and believe is only a passing one, I have to make a Motion that this House will to-morrow, at Two of the Clock, resolve itself into Committee to consider Her Majesty's gracious Message; and I give Notice that my right hon. Friend will to-morrow, at the same time, move in Committee a Resolution on the subject. I have to express my extreme regret on account of the particular time this Message has been communicated, that I must throw myself on the courtesy of the hon. Member for South-west Lancashire (Mr. Cross), and to ask him to allow the Government to have precedence to-morrow at 2 o'clock over the Motion of which he has given Notice, and for which the Government had promised the use of that hour. The Government are anxious to make arrangements the most convenient for my hon. Friend and the House, and they therefore propose that his Motion shall immediately follow that of my right hon. Friend with reference to Her Majesty's Message. Supposing Supply is closed the Report will follow, and if it should be impossible to terminate the discussion at 7 o'clock, it will be resumed at 9 o'clock. The right hon. Gentleman concluded by making the Motion to which he had referred.

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

said, he would not for one moment do anything to stop the proceedings of the Government in reference to the gracious Message which they had just received from the Queen. He was quite content that his Motion should come on after the Message was considered, on the understanding that if the debate was not concluded, it should be resumed at 9.

MR. MUNDELLA

begged to remind the right hon. Gentleman the Home Secretary that the right hon. Gentleman at the head of the Government distinctly and emphatically promised to give Tues- day evening for the discussion of the Factory Acts Amendment Bill.

MR. BRUCE

said, the promise of his right hon. Friend was carefully worded and was conditional. It was the intention of the Government to fulfil the promise as far as possible, and they proposed to make the Order for the resumption of the debate on the Bill of his hon. Friend the first Order for Wednesday.

Motion agreed to.

Committee thereupon To-morrow, at Two of the clock.