The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-06 00:00:00

which take place about this period of the year, in consequence
of its being obligatory upon them to attend in the Court cos-
tume of bag-wig and sword. _(Laughter, and hear.) Very
few, comparatively, have attended these levees of the Speaker
in consequence of being prevented by the continuance of an
old, and, as I think, unnecessary custom of Members of this
House appearing in any but the costume I have mentioned.
Now, as I consider that the Members of this House ought to
be allowed full opportunity of paying the usual visits of at-
tention and respect to the Speaker, I am anxious that the
House should declare that these visits may be paid in the or- •
dinary evening dress, instead of being compelled to appear in
court dress, a dress which many Hon. Members have not al-
ways at hand, and it may be a matter of inconvenience On
the part of some, and disinclination on the part of others,
to wear.—(Laughter.) I hope it will not, for a moment, be
supposed that I intend the slightest disrespect to the Speaker
by the proposal which I have made to the House ; on the con-
trary, it is because I entertain a confident hope that his levees
will be more fully attended than any that have taken place
for a considerable time that I have suggested the means of
accomplishing what I consider an object of very great impor-
tance.—( Hear, hear.)
The SPEAKER rose and said, with reference to the
subject which the Hon. Member has brought under the con-
sideration of the House, I can only say that I shall always
cheerfully follow the example of my predecessors in consulting
the convenience of the House as to the mode of conducting the
customary levees. With respect to the change in dress pro-
posed by the Hon. Member, I do not feel myself justified in
proposing any alteration in it to the House, as I have a pre-
scribed duty to perform with reference to it—namely to
follow the course adopted by may predecessors.—( Hear,
hear.) However, if the House should, in a matter which
exclusively concerns their own feelings and sense of pre:
priety, express any decided opinion on the subject, it will al',
ford me the highest gratification to conform to the wishes 0'
the House.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. WARBURTON approved of the proposal which bed
been made by the Hon. Member for Middlesex. It was not,
however, because he had no court dress—(A laugh)—that be
was desirous to see the intended change effected, but because
he was satisfied that many Hon. Members were restrained
from attending on these occasions by being compelled to make
Merry Andrews of themselves in court dresses. It appeared
to him that it would be much more decorous to appear in the
ordinary evening dress, such as that in which the Members of
that House would appear in the houses of the first noblemen.
From what had fallen from the Speaker, be inferred that be
was inclined to approve of the proposed alteration in dress.
The SPE AKER—I have expressed no opinion upon the
subject. It is a matter in which I feel that I ought not to
interfere.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. F. BA RING—I am sure, Sir, that you will be happY
to receive the ordinary attentions in any manner which the
House may determine ; but, looking to the empty benches of
the House, Ido not think this to be proper time for taking s

decision upon such a question.—( Hear, hear.)
Lord SAND ON thought that an unfavourable time for
making any alteration in the mode of paying the customary
respects to their Speaker, whose levees he, for one, should be
most happy to attend, as a proof of his approval of the manner
in which he had performed the duties imposed on him.
The House then adjourned at a quarter-past. nine o'clock.