§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEwished to say a few words as to the weakness of the grounds on which grants of this description were supported. It was not his intention to divide the House against the Bill unless hon. Members wished to take the sense of the House on the subject; but if any hon. Members wished to do so they should have his vote. Until the Act of last year, the Crown, in addressing Parliament, had generally stated that it was debarred by the law in force from making provision for the younger children; but owing to the measure which allowed the Crown to possess private estates, which were not included in the estates surrendered at the commencement of the reign "without reserve," and another Act, providing for the secrecy of the wills of the Crown, it could not now be asserted that the Crown did not possess property out of which provisions of this kind could be made. He only wished to put that on record.
MR. SCOURFIELDtook advantage of the question being raised to read the following opinion from an independent source as to the relative advantages of the Republican and the Monarchical forms of government:—
For the quiet and honest government which Queen Victoria has bestowed upon the English 859 people for 30 and odd years, they might well afford to pay ten times the amount. It has not only been honest, quiet, and prosperous, it has been the freest government on earth. "We flatter ourselves that we have the cheapest government on earth; but, in reality, our President is the most costly ruler in the world. The sums stolen every week by Federal officials would, on a moderate calculation, greatly exceed the total annual expenses of the Royal Family of England. Our English cousins had better pause. Either on the score of cheap and honest or good government, they may not improve their condition by substituting Republicanism for Royalty."—[Richmond Whig, 1872.]
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for To-morrow.