The subject was renewed on Monday night by Mr. John
Morley, who moved an amendment, which was in effect the amendment of Mr. Labouchere over again, though made in Committee instead of made as against the proposal to go into Committee. It negatived any vote for the children of the Prince of Wales as positively as for any other of the Queen's grandchildren, and it did not insist at all on Mr. John Morley's only strong point,—the demand that the statements of Ministers as to the abstract right of the Crown should not be made the excuse for an increase of the Civil List on the next demise of the Crown, in case the next Sovereign agrees to provide for all his grandchildren except the children of the Heir-Apparent. Mr. Chamberlain made a, very amusing speech in criticism of Mr. John Morley's vacillating and incon- sistent attitude ; and Sir Henry James showed that absolute finality is unattainable, as you cannot anticipate the circum- stances under which a new Parliament assembles, or those under which a new monarch applies to it for a settlement. Mr. Morley's amendment was negatived by 355 to 134 votes,—majority, 221; so that Mr. Morley's special following was just 17.
Previous page
