HL Deb 17 July 1835 vol 29 cc679-80
Lord Brougham

said, that he wished to put a question to his noble Friend at the head of the Committee for Re-building the Houses of Parliament, or to his noble Friend at the head of the Woods and Forests, on the subject of a matter which he found mentioned in the Votes of the other House. He referred to the matter of providing accommodation in that House for Ladies to hear the Debates. On this subject he must say, that he differed from some other people in this matter; and, disliking the introduction of politics into private society, he thought that the Ladies would be infinitely better employed in almost any other way than in attending the Debates of that House. He should, therefore, if no other noble Lord opposed a proposition for setting apart a gallery for their use, oppose it himself. His noble—he might almost say his noble and learned Friend opposite (Lord Wharncliffe) seemed to laugh at what he was saying. He could assure his noble Friend that not even his noble Friend felt a more absolute and entire devotion to the sex than he did; but he wished also always to sec them in their proper places.

Lord Wharncliffe

assured his noble and learned Friend, that he did not wish to ridicule what his noble and learned Friend had said. On the contrary, he entirely agreed with it.

The Marquess of Lansdowne

observed, that in the Report of the Building Committee it was stated, that after providing accommodation for various persons, a certain quantity of room would remain, which might be dedicated to other purposes. The name of the ladies was not, however, introduced into the Report; and, as far as he was concerned, it never should be introduced there.

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