On Thursday a White-paper was issued containing the Report of
the House of Commons Committee on the Civil List. The recommendations seem eminently fair and reason- able. During the late reign the total charge was £553,000; it is now to be £620,000. This is a net increase of 267,000. But it must be remembered that this includes pensions for the servants of the late Queen, which, though most justly due, must not be counted as part of the maintenance of the present Sovereign. If these are deducted, the net increase is only £42,000 a year. But considering that provision is now made for the Consort of the Sovereign, which has not, of course, been made since the Prince Consort's death (his grant was £30,000 a year), it cannot be said that the demands on the Treasury are in any sense exces- sive. As to details, it may be mentioned that the allow- ance for their Majesties' Privy Purse is to be £110,000, that the annuity to the Duke of Cornwall is to be 220,000 a year, and that to the Duchess £10,000, and that the provision for. the King's daughters is £18,000 a year. The country will, we believe, be well satisfied with the recommendations of the Committee. They are generous without being extravagant. The nation does not desire a wasteful or Orientally lavish Court, but at the same time it wants to see things well done. The total figures seem large, but it is curious to re- flect that there are three, and probably more, Americaii citizens whose incomes considerably exceed that of the King.
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