HL Deb 30 May 1848 vol 99 cc80-2
The MARQUESS of LANSDOWNE

rose to move an address of condolence to Her Majesty on the recent death of the Princess Sophia. In consequence of the House not sitting yesterday he had been unable to give notice of this Motion; but there were instances in which such Motions had been made without previous notice, and, under all the circumstances of the case, he was certain that he should be only expressing the feeling which animated all their Lordships when he moved an address of condolence to Her Majesty on account of the loss which She and the rest of the Royal Family had suffered in the death of her late Royal Highness the Princess Sophia, who was endeared to all who knew her by the virtues, charity, and excellence which she had displayed during the course of a long life. He therefore moved— That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to express the deep concern of this House at the Loss which Her Majesty has sustained by the Death of Her Royal Highness the Princess Sophia, and to condole with Her Majesty on this melancholy Occasion, and to assure Her Majesty that this House will ever participate with the most affectionate and dutiful attachment in whatever may concern the Feelings and Interest of Her Majesty, and Her illustrious House.

LORD STANLEY

felt quite sure that the noble Marquess had only consulted the unanimous feelings of their Lordships in taking, with or without notice, the earliest opportunity of conveying to Her Majesty the expression of the regret of the House at the lamented death of her late Royal Highness the Princess Sophia. He believed that her death had been a welcome relief to her from a long period of most painful bodily suffering; and the Christian resignation with which those sufferings had been borne, and the uniform benevolence and kindness of her late Royal Highness's character, had excited among all who were acquainted with the circumstances one universal feeling of respect and admiration. He was certain that her late Royal Highness's memory would long be cherished, not only by the Royal and illustrious Personage to whom the proposed address would be presented, and by a large circle of her friends, but also by a numerous portion of the humbler classes, who had had an opportunity of knowing, from their own experience, the kindness and benevolence of her late Royal Highness's character.

Motion agreed to nemine dissentiente.