lbert of Saxe Cobourg and Gotha was passed
through all its stages. On the second reading, the Duke of Wellington
objected that it was not only an act for the naturalization of Prince
Albert, but contained also a clause entitling the prince, "for and
during the term of his natural life, to take precedence in rank after
her majesty, in parliament and elsewhere, as her majesty may think
fit and proper; any law, statute, or custom to the contrary
notwithstanding." Under these circumstances, his grace moved that the
debate be adjourned, as the house had not sufficient notice of the
contents of the bill, and as the title of it did not state anything
respecting the precedence of the prince. Lord Melbourne replied,
that the omission was purely accidental, and, in his opinion, of no
importance. At the same time his lordship admitted that this bill
differed in form from any other bills, inasmuch as it gave her majesty
an ability to bestow on Prince Albert a higher station than that
assigned to Prince George of Denmark, or Prince Leopold. But the reason
for the difference, he contended, was to be looked for in the relative
situation of the parties. The arrangements with regard to the marriage
of the Princess Charlotte were temporary; in this act it was intended
to raise the prince to a station next to that of the queen; and
no opposition had been offered to this course by those peculiarly
interested in point of rank. After a few observations from Lords
Brougham and Londonderry, the debate was adjourned till the following
week, when the lord-chancellor stated that he should propose that power
be given to the crown to allow the prince to take precedence next after
any heir-apparent to the throne.

Subsequently, however, Lord Melbourne, in moving the committal of the
bill, expressed himself so anxious that it should pass with all
possible expedition, that he had determined to leave out all relating to
precedence, and reduce it to a naturalization bill, as expressed in the
title. In that shape the bill passed without further opposition. In the
commons the bill was passed without discussion.

THE CIVIL-LIST.

On the 24th of June, after moving that the paragraph in the queen's
speech relative to Prince Albert's annuity be read, Lord John Russell
went into a long detail of precedents of grants to princes and
princesses allied to the royal family of England; and concluded by
moving "that her majesty be enabled to grant an annual