QUEEN'S DOWER. (Hansard, 22 July 1831)

Mr. Hume
said, that the large unlimited allowance given to Prince Leopold, which he had recently so generously resigned, had caused much popular discontent, on the supposition that it would be spent abroad. In the provision made for Prince George of Cumberland, it was enacted, that the money should be paid only if the Prince resided in England. He thought that, in the arrangement of the Queen's Dowry, some respect ought to be had to the point whether the Queen were to reside in England, or marry again after the King's demise, and spend her money abroad. The sum granted was large, but not too much if she continued to reside here, and kept up her state and dignity, but the sum was altogether too much if she were to retire abroad, and receive it in a foreign country. He wished, therefore, to have a few words inserted in the Bill, to the effect that her Majesty should only continue to enjoy this immense dower so long as she continued to reside in this country.

§ Lord Althorp
said, that with respect to Prince George, the provision was made only because it was deemed necessary that the Prince should have an English education. He did not think, that any limit such as had been suggested ought to be made in the provision for her Majesty, or that the gift should be clogged with any conditions. There was no precedent for such a limitation in any former grants of dower to Queens, and he could not think of departing from the usual practice.

Mr. Hume
trusted the noble Lord and the House would do him the justice to believe he meant nothing offensive in what he had suggested, to the illustrious person alluded to. It had not, however, originated with himself, and he would not press it against the sense of the House.

§ Lord Ebrington
was as desirous as any hon. Member that such grants as that under consideration should be spent in this country, yet he could not agree to the suggestion of the hon. Gentleman. It would be unjust to clog this grant with conditions, connected as it was with the feelings of an illustrious person to whom they owed so much, and particularly as 257 there was no precedent for it in any former settlement of Dower. To make such a stipulation in the case of a Monarch who had given up nearly the whole of the hereditary revenue of the Crown, would be most ungracious.