§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY)My Lords, before we commence to-day's proceedings on the Government of India Bill, I would ask your Lordships' indulgence for a few minutes while I say one word in regard to one of our esteemed colleagues who was with us last Monday but who, I am sorry to think, has been taken from us in the last two days. I refer to Lord Ampthill. Most of your Lordships were well acquainted with Lord Ampthill and had learned to respect the strong and masterly way in which he approached all these subjects, on which he held such strong convictions. We all welcomed his forceful speeches, and we understood the deep conviction which moved him to express his views in eloquent language, and 2 in language which showed the depth of feeling which appeared behind his words. I know that your Lordships will think it fitting on this occasion that we should express our sympathy with his family in the loss which they have sustained, and I am sure that your Lordships will join with me in saying how deeply we regret the loss of so valued and esteemed a colleague.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, as I was very closely associated with Lord Ampthill lately, perhaps it will be allowed me to add a word to what has been so well said by the noble Marquess the Leader of the House. It is a very tragic feeling, when you are working very closely with somebody in a great enterprise and meeting him every day, to learn one morning that he is ill and two days afterwards that he never can be with us again. All of us must realise that we have lost a man of sterling character in Lord Ampthill. He held his convictions with great strength; he never shrank from expressing them. He was the straightest man I ever had to deal with. I am sure that your Lordships will allow me to add these words to what has fallen from the noble Marquess.
§ LORD PONSONBY OF SHULBREDEMy Lords, I should like, on behalf of the Opposition, to associate myself with what has fallen from the noble Marquess the Leader of the House. However deep political differences may be, it comes as 3 a great shock when one who has been taking part in our debates with such strength and vigour suddenly drops out of the line. My recollection of Lord Ampthill goes back a great many years to the time when, as a small boy, I used to admire him as Captain of the Boats at Eton. Whatever we may have thought of the various political differences which separated us, there was never any doubt about Lord Ampthill's views and there was never anything the least equivocal about his utterances. His death will be a great loss to your Lordships' House.
§ THE MARQUESS OF READINGMy Lords, allow me just for one moment to detain you while I associate myself with my noble colleagues in this House in what has been said by the Leader of the House, by the noble Marquess, Lord Salisbury, and by Lord Ponsonby. All I can add is that through my long period of acquaintance with Lord Ampthill I have often had differences of opinion with him, but I have always respected him not only for the strength of his opinions but also for the strength with which he expressed them. He was always held in the very highest esteem.
§ LORD LAMINGTONMy Lords, I should like to associate myself with the remarks which have been made about a very old friend of mine, Lord Ampthill. I had the honour of serving under him, as Governor of Bombay when he was temporary Viceroy of India. I know something of his work there and of his great strength of character. I fully associate myself with all that has been said on the strength of his views and his perfect fairness in enunciating them. I also remember, although I was very young, the time when he went to Oxford—without my then knowing him; he was termed then the Admirable Crichton of the day. That was a correct summing-up of the whole of his character.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (THE MARQUESS OF ZETLAND)My Lords, perhaps you will also forgive me for one moment if I express my feelings of really profound sorrow at the loss which we have sustained. I have known Lord Ampthill for many years. Often we agreed, generally, I think, on political questions. More recently there have been honest differences of opinion between us with regard to the measure now before your Lordships' House. But it is not 4 only in connection with political matters that I have been closely associated for a good many years past with the late Lord Ampthill. In an entirely different sphere outside the range of politics altogether, he has served for many years in an eminent capacity as Pro-Grand Master of the Freemasons of England, and in that connection I have been closely associated with him for many years. I feel profoundly the loss which has suddenly been inflicted upon us.