GRANT TO THE DUKE AND DUCHESS OF CLARENCE. (Hansard, 27 March 1827)

Lord King

said, that the noble earl, who had just moved the second reading of the bill, had thought proper not to say a word to their lordships on the subject. He should have thought that, in such a case as the present, the noble lord would have stated some reason for the additional grant. From 87 the circumstance of this bill having been left a long time elsewere, without any notice being taken of it, there seemed to be a desire to get it smuggled through their lordships' House, without saying a word upon the matter. Perhaps the noble lord thought that, as he was going to make corn dear, it was necessary to raise every thing in proportion. Or perhaps it was because he thought the time favourable for proposing such a grant. He had chosen a favourable opportunity for it while great distress existed among the manufacturers; as next year, probably, there would be great distress among the agriculturists. The noble lord had timed his shot well; he had sent it between wind and water. He did not know the reason why the government had been so long without a head. He certainly wished for an efficient minister, to take charge of such things as the present. He thought the noble lord looked like an efficient minister yesterday. It was high time for their lordships that there should be an efficient minister, for they looked like a flock of sheep without a shepherd, and they were bleating in every note of the gamut, from L sharp to R flat. This was certainly the golden age for princes, for palaces, and for Ireland. He had had a petition to present against the present bill; but he had not known when it was to be read a second time.

§ Earl Bathurst

stated, that his noble friend, the earl of Liverpool, in moving an address in answer to the message of his majesty, proposing an increase to the provision of the duke and duchess of Clarence, in consequence of their present situation, had stated what would be proposed as the amount of that additional increase. His noble friend had stated, that an income of 3,000l. devolved on the duke of Clarence in consequence of the death of the duke of York, and that an addition of 9,000l. was proposed to be made for the maintenance of the duke and duchess of Clarence. He had also stated, that 3,000l. was to go to the duke of Clarence, and 6,000l. to the duchess. Such was the statement which had been made by his noble friend when he moved the address. Their lordships had unanimously consented to it, and he therefore had a right to conclude, that they had consented not only to the increase itself, but to the particular manner in which that increase was to be made. ,Such being the 88 case, he did not think it necessary to trouble their lordships with any observations in moving the second reading of the bill; because that bill only enacted that which his noble friend had stated to their lordships. And what was this increase? It was an increase, by which the duke and duchess of Clarence would be entitled to receive upon the whole, an income of 35,500l. He could not conceive that there could be any objection to such income for the heir presumptive of the crown of Great Britain and Ireland. His noble friend had devoted a great deal of attention to the financial distress of the country; but their lordships would recollect, that they had unanimously granted 60,000l. per annum as a provision to her royal highness, the princess Charlotte of Wales. At that time she was standing in the same relation to his majesty, as the duke of Clarence HOW stood namely, the presumptive heiress of the crown of Great Britain, the duke of Clarence being now the presumptive heir. But the princess Charlotte was one degree further removed than the duke of Clarence, being presumptive heiress to the heir apparent. He was convinced their lordships could not object to such a grant; and he was satisfied that the public would approve of the manner in which a considerable portion of the grant would be expended; nor could a grant be made in a manner more acceptable to the feelings of his royal highness, since the greatest part was left at the disposal of her royal highness.

The bill was read a second time.