§ On the bringing up of the Report on the Duchess of Kent's Annuity Bill:—
§ Lord Althorpsaid, he would take that opportunity to state, in reply to a former question which had been put by the hon. member for Middlesex, that it was thought inexpedient to make any technical alteration in this Bill, for the purpose of enacting, that the annuity should revert to the public in case of the decease of the Princess Victoria, or the birth of children to their present Majesties.
Mr. Humeobserved, that the Bill, as now worded, would have the effect of continuing this annuity to the Duchess of Kent, not with standing the occurrence of either of those contingencies to which the noble Lord had alluded. It could not be intended to continue the grant of 20,OOOl. a-year in case of the death of the Princess. He would therefore recommend the introduction of a clause, making it to cease and determine in the event of the decease of her royal highness the Princess Victoria.
§ Lord Althorpreplied, that such a melancholy event was most improbable, and the intention of the Legislature was sufficiently obvious to render the proposed alteration in his opinion, unnecessary.
§ Mr. Courtenaythought there could be no rational objection to the proposed alteration.
§ Mr. John Woodhad no wish to prevent a regular provision being made for the Duchess of Kent, in the event of her surviving the Princess her daughter, but he considered this Bill to be worded in such a vague manner, that it would be liable to misconstruction, and he thought it was necessary to obviate this.
§ Mr. Watson Taylorwas also of opinion, this clause had better be revised. He felt great delicacy in alluding to the subject, but he thought the Bill should be so worded, as to continue the grant to the Duchess of Kent in the event of her outliving her daughter.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, that perhaps, under all the circumstances which had been noticed it would be better to postpone the consideration of the report.
Mr. Hughes Hughesperfectly agreed with his hon. and learned friend, the member for Preston (Mr. John Wood), that this Bill was worded in a defective manner, and he therefore recommended the noble Lord, (the Chancellor of the Exchequer), so to alter it as to make the grant a permanent 1167 provision to the Duchess of Kent, to which as the mother of the presumptive heiress of the Crown, she was fully entitled.
§ Mr. Ruthventhought it improper to make such objections to the grant for an illustrious Member of the Royal Family, as had been done by the hon. member for Middlesex; such miserable economy was uncalled for.
Mr. Humeconsidered the hon. Gentleman who spoke last very inconsistent, in defending a Bill which would effect one purpose under the colour of effecting another. That might be an Irish way of legislating; but it was wrong to accuse a man of "miserable economy," for endeavouring to effect a straight-forward purpose.
§ Mr. Ruthvenagreed with the hon. Member. An Irishman always desired to act liberally by the Royal Family.
§ Lord Althorpsaid, his only object was, to consider the propriety of making any necessary alterations in compliance, with the observations that had been made, and he would therefore postpone the further consideration of the report.