The Sun.
London, England, 1857-05-23 00:00:00

ELECTION COMMITTEES.

Sir G. Grey, Sir C. Wood, Mr. Labouchere, Sir R.
Bethel!, and Mr. V. Smith, were excused from serving
on election committees so long as they held office.
THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE.—
WHITSUNDAY HOLIDAYS,
In reply to Mr. WALPOLE,
Lord PALMERSTON said he intended to move the
adjournment of the house next week for her Majesty's
birthday and the Derby-day, and on this day week to
adjourn till Thursday, the 4th of June, for the Whitsun-
tide holidays.
TORTURE IN INDIA.—EXTRAORDINARY
SCENE.
On the motion for the adjournment of the house till
Monday,
Lord CLAUD HAMILTON asked the President of
the Beard of Control if he would state to the house
what step had been taken by the Government to
put an end to the practice of torture in the
Presidency of Madras, since the report of the Com-
mission that had proved its prevalence in that Presidency ;
and, whether similar investivations had been instituted in
Bombay and Bengal ; and, if so, whether it was intended
to communicate the result of such inquiries to the house?
The noble lord addressed the house at considerable
length on the subject-matter contained in the report
alluded to, when he was interrupted by Mr. Stanley,
who, when asking a question at an early part of the
evening, attempted to travel out of the ordinary rule,
and was called to order. The Speaker was appealed
to, and said that the case of the bon. member
was different : the noble lord was speaking on the
motion of the adjournment of the house, and was in
order. Mr. Stanley however rose again and attempted
to address the house, when he was met with loud cries
of "Order." The Speaker again informed the honour-
able member that the noble lord was in order, but
no sooner bad the Speaker sat down than the hon.
member rose again and was met with deafening cries of
"Order, and chair."
The SPEAKER then rose and obtained silence, when
he called on Lord C. Hamilton to proceed with his
address.
Mr. STANLEY, however, again rose, and was again
et with the same cries as before.
The SPEAKER had again to interfere, and called on
the noble lord to proceed, which was received with
cheers.

Lord C. HAMILTON then proceeded with his
address to the house, and in doing so, said he
doubted through the long tenure of office he hoped the
Speaker would enjoy that be would be again treated in
the manner he had been that night by the hon. member.
After some further remarks the noble lord concluded his
address.
Mr. V. SMITH said, that it was the desire of him-
self and Lord Harris, in India, to put an end to torture
in India as soon as possible, and he should be ready to
produce any papers respecting the subject.
WESTMINSTER-BRIDGE.
Mr. HENLEY asked the First Commis.doner of Works
as to the state of Westminster-bridge, and whether the
Government had come to any determination to proceed
•-•;tlithe works commenced for a new bridge
air B. HALL, in answering the question, said that
the bridge was now in the same state of security it
was when he answered a similar question last
year. The Government, in consequence of the pro-
posed erection of new offices had thought it desirable
in the event of new structures being erected to defer the
continuance of the bridge. After a decision on the
plans, and before any further expenditure took place, he
intended to ask the decision of the house whether the
present site should be retained or altered.
THE INTE RR UPTION.
Mr. STANLEY rose and apologised to the Speaker
for his interruption of the noble lord's address. It was
not done with a view of disputing the Speaker's autho-
rity, but to put a question of order to the chair.
ALLOWANCE TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER having
moved that the house should go into oommittee to take
into consideration the Royal message on this subject.
Mr. ROEBUCK—Sir, lam reluctant to interpose at the
present moment, but I believe thatthe opinions I am about
to express are those which are held by a large body of my
countrymen, and for that reason I believe that they will be
attended to by this house. Ido not think that anything I
can offer will carry any weight with it, but as my opinion
will be backed out of doors I have no doubt the house will
give me its attention for a few moments. Sir, I feel that I
have on the present occasion a divided duty. I have aduty
to perform to the Sovereign and a duty to the people. The
Sovereign of these realms has so won the affections of her
people that in her case they sink the monarch in the woman,
and the respect and deference which we owe to the Sove-
reign are, if I may so say, swallowed up in the affection for
the woman. In all the relations of life—as daughter, wife,
and mother—her Majesty has set an example to her people
which, socially, is of immense importance, and on that ac-
count I am quite sure it will be our anxious desire, as it
will be our very greatest pleasure, to meet her wishes. As
this is the first of her Majesty's children wholcaves her pa-
rents' home, and as it is therefore the first occasion on
which her Majesty hascome to this house to ask foraid and
assistance in setting forth that child in the world, we must
all feel an intense desire to meet the wishes of the Sovereign.
But, sir, while doing this, we must not forget that we have
another duty to perform, and that, although we are the
subjects of the Queen, we arealso the representatives of the
people. (Hear.) We must not forgot that while we en-
deavour—as I am awe we shall all endeavour—to meet her
wishes, we have also to consider the interests of the people
and, therefore, that while we are generous we must endea-
vour also to be just—generous to the Sovereign, but just

to the people. (Hear.) But, sir, what I wish to state is
with respect to the mode in which we should endea-

your to meet the wishes of the Sovereign. We have
been told in the gracious message which her Majesty has
sent that she has selected a husband for her eldest daughter;
and she calls upon the house to aid and assist her, and so to
provide for that daughter as to do honour to the people of
England, whose daughter she is, and at the same time to
provide for the comfort of her child. It must be the wish

of the house to meet that sentiment as it deserves, but it is
due to the people of this country to recollect that when we

are providing for the wants—and that is a strong term—of
the child of the Sovereign we ought not to press too heavily
upon the people we represent. (Hear.) We must recollect
that the Princess Royal is the first of a large family--(a
laugh)—and that we are now considering a step which will
be brought to be considered a precedent, and what we do
for the Princess Royal we shall be expected to do for the
other Princes and Princesses. Now, Sir, we must also re-
collect that the Royal lady who is about now to be married
to the Prince of Prussia has chosen for her husband no
humble, no obscure individual, no private person, but the
heir to a great name and a great lineage. She is about to
be married to one who in the ordinary course of life will
become one of the great Sovereigns of Europe. (Hear.)
She is therefore allying herself to a great Power, and we
do not intend, I suppose, so to provide for her as that she
shall be considered a Royal Queen who is about to be
married, but to provide for her happiness as the wife of
the Royal Prince of Prussia. But while we so endeavour
to provide for her happiness, we have to consider what are
the best means of so doing; and the only reason that in-
duces me to rise and address the house is in consequence
of what occurred on a previous and similar occa-
sion. On the marriage of the Princess Royal of England,
the daughter of George 111., the House of Commons of
England determined to apportion for her dowry a
round sum of 80,0001. They determined by this means
at once and for ever to discharge this obligation. I know
Sir, that circumstances at that time allowed the then
Sovereign to apply to Ireland ; I know that an applica-
tion was made to the Parliament of Ireland, and that

they took a different course, and voted to the Princess
Royal an annuity of 5,0001. a-year, thus imposing the duty
upon the people of Ireland of paying an annuity of 5,0001.,
however long she might live. In order to express the feel•
ing which I believe is held by a great body of my fellow-
countrymen, I beg to state to the noble lord that the course
which the Parliament of England then took meets, as I
believe, the feelings of the people of England at the pre-
sent moment. What is desired is, that we should gene-
rously, and as befits the people of England, provide for
thi daughter of England--(cheers} —but that we should 1
make that provision at once by payment of a suitable