§ THE EARL OF MALMESBURYMy Lords, before we proceed to the public business of the evening. I think it my duty to call your Lordships' attention to a subject which must have been painfully present to all your minds during the last two or three days—I mean the atrocious attempt on the life of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. I am sure your Lordships heard of that attempt with indignation and sorrow, and I think you will be anxious, in a public form, to show Her Majesty how you sympathize with her anxiety, and the horror which that attempt has universally aroused. My Lords, the crime, which a merciful Providence has prevented from attaining the consummation which was intended, is one of no common description, because its inherent atrocity is aggravated by the fact that, had it been consummated, it would have been perfectly fruitless to the assassin in its results. No political consequences could have ensued from it. It could have changed no dynasty. It could have removed no obnoxious Minister. It could have altered even no unpopular law; and the innocent victim who was condemned to death by this criminal had, so far as we know, given no cause of offence to the man who sought his life. It is, therefore, my intention to move that we address Her Majesty, expressing our sympathy with Her Majesty on this painful occasion, and the horror we feel at the crime which has been committed. Your Lordships, I am sure, will hear with gratification, though without surprise, that Her Majesty received the shock of the intelligence with the courage and calmness characteristic of herself and of her race. My Lords, I move—
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to convey to Her Majesty the Expression of the Sorrow and Indignation with which this House has learned the atrocious Attempt to assassinate His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh while on a Visit to Her Majesty's loyal Australian Colonies, and of their heartfelt Congratulations to Her Majesty on his Preservation from mortal Injury; and to assure Her Majesty of the Sympathy of this House in her Majesty's present Anxiety, and of their earnest Hope for the speedy Recovery of His Royal Highness.
§ EARL RUSSELLIf the noble Earl will permit me, I should wish to second the Motion he has just made—to congratulate Her Majesty on the failure of this 1305 most dreadful attempt. The noble Earl has very justly said that no purpose could have been answered by it; but this wretched conspiracy of Fenians, having no power to effect anything against the authority of the Crown or Government, appears to have taken a general licence to commit the crime of murder in any part of the world. I, therefore, entirely agree with the Address to Her Majesty which the noble Earl has moved.
§ Resolved and Ordered, Nemine Dissentiente, That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to convey to Her Majesty the Expression of the Sorrow and Indignation with which this House has learned the atrocious Attempt to assassinate His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh while on a Visit to Her Majesty's loyal Australian Colonies, and of their heartfelt Congratulations to Her Majesty on his Preservation from mortal Injury; and to assure Her Majesty of the Sympathy of this House in Her Majesty's present Anxiety, and of their earnest Hope for the speedy Recovery of His Royal Highness.
§ The said Address to be presented to Her Majesty by the Lords with White Staves.