August 23, 1839.

Speech on Her Majesty’s Marriage.

There is no noble lord in this house who concurs more sincerely than I do in the expression of congratulation to her majesty upon her approaching marriage, which she has been pleased to announce a second time to the public from the throne this day.  I sincerely wish, with the noble mover and seconder of the address, that this event may tend to the happiness and comfort of the Queen.  Upon this occasion I should have been contented with the address, and should have offered not another word, if your lordships had not been called upon in the speech from the throne, to concur with the other house of parliament, in making a suitable provision for the prince, for whose future station in this country her majesty’s speech has prepared us.  But, my lords, it appears to me that when this house is called upon to express an opinion upon a detail of this description, the house ought to look into, and act upon, this subject—­it ought not to be a mere congratulation.  I conceive that the public have a right to know something beyond the mere name of the prince whom her majesty is about to espouse.  My lords, I had the honour of being summoned to attend her majesty in privy council, when her majesty in council was graciously pleased to declare her intention of becoming the espoused of this prince.  I observed, that the precedent of the reign of George III. was followed in all respects except one, and that was the declaration, that this prince was a protestant. [Loud cries of “Hear, hear!” from the opposition benches.] My lords, I, for one, entertain no doubt that the prince is a protestant.  I believe he is a protestant.  I know he is of a protestant family.  I have the honour of being known to some members of that family, and I am sure that it is a protestant family.  But, my lords, this is a protestant state, and it is absolutely necessary, by law, that the person who shall become the spouse of the queen be a protestant; and, if the precedent of George III. has been taken in part, it ought to have been followed throughout; and then the public would have had the satisfaction of knowing that the fact of the prince being a protestant, had been officially declared by her majesty’s government.  My lords, I know the noble lords opposite too well to suppose that they are not aware of the anxiety in the public mind on this subject; and I know, also, that they had it in their power to relieve that anxiety, and to gratify the public by making this declaration; nay, more, my lords, I am convinced that there exists the same anxiety in the royal mind, about the protestant character of the state as is felt by me or any of your lordships.  And if so, my lords, I ask, why was the precedent of George III. departed from?  Is there any doubt as to the religious sentiments of this prince?  None at all; there can be no doubt that he is a protestant; he cannot be otherwise.  Then, why is it not so