HC Deb 08 August 1831 vol 5 cc966-7

Lord Althorp moved the second reading of the Bill for making a further provision for the Duchess of Kent and her daughter, the Princess Victoria.

Mr. Hume

expressed his regret, that he was not in the House when this grant was proposed, or he should have objected to it, and have been one of the minority. Ministers did not observe those principles of economy to which they were pledged; but by such votes as this they were bringing royalty into disrepute He was ready to admit they had not done worse than those who went before them; but there was reason to hope they would not have followed so bad an example, but would rather have decreased than added to the burthens of the people. He was sure half the proposed sum of 10,000l. would have been sufficient, in addition to what the young Princess at present, enjoyed, to enable the Duchess to educate and maintain her daughter in a suitable manner. The grant was one which would not satisfy the country. He would not enter further into the subject at present, but he did hope, when the Bill was in Committee, some clause would be introduced to declare how far this grant should be continued in case of the death of the Princess Victoria before the demise of the Crown, or before the decease of the Duchess of Kent. For this lady he had the highest respect, and thought she was entitled to a suitable provision; but he considered that this grant went beyond propriety, and was an extravagant application of the public money.

Sir Charles Forbes

defended the grant, and said, his only objection was, that it was too little, and came too late. He remembered, when the provision was made for her Royal Highness, among other members of the royal family, it was asked in the Committee, why the provision was so small, and Lord Castlereagh declared, that his royal highness, Prince Leopold, had taken upon himself the charge of making a provision for the education of his niece. He thought then, and continued to think now, that it was not creditable to the country, that the young Princess should have been left so long to be assisted by the bounty of her uncle.

Bill read a second time.