§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, I wish to ask the noble Earl at the head of the Government a Question of which I have given him private Notice. It is, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information beyond that which has appeared in the newspapers with regard to the deplorable outrage at St. Petersburg, and the attempted assassination of the Emperor of Russia, which has not only filled all classes in this country with horror, but has sent a thrill throughout the whole civilized world? My Lords, it is impossible to express the indignation which is felt with regard to the repetition of such attempts. If anything could 902 strengthen that indignation it would be the utter disregard of human life, even without the circle of the intended victim, exhibited by the persons who perpetrate these outrages. The escape of the Imperial Family must be a cause of general satisfaction; and certainly, as far as we are concerned, it must be an additional satisfaction that a member of our own Royal Family was one of those who were providentially saved from this attempted murder, and that the illustrious Princess is still spared to be a comfort to her distinguished mother. I do not know that I can add anything to what is generally reported, and. to what I readily believe—that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh has been the greatest comfort and solace to her family in this most terrible moment.
§ THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELDMy Lords, we have received intelligence to-day on this subject; but it throws no light on the origin, or originators, of the terrible crime to which the noble Earl has referred. I am sure your Lordships will fully agree with the noble Earl in what he has said of this outrage. It is, indeed, one of those events which make us doubt of the progress of that civilization of which we are so constantly boasting. War in the home is worse even than civil war. But it must be some satisfaction that, notwithstanding there have been, unfortunately, many victims of this crime, no member of the Imperial Family has sustained injury. The whole country shares in that satisfaction, not diminished when we recollect that among the members of the Imperial Family is a Princess of our own House, one who possesses the respect and affection of this country, who on this occasion has shown those great qualities which those who have the honour of her acquaintance are familiar with, and who has refused to leave at this moment a scene of so much danger and so much domestic suffering.