The House of Commons has absolutely refused even to listen
to the idea of the working electors as to the dowry of the Princess Louise. Mr. Gladstone on Monday moved a resolution sanctioning the annuity of £6,000 a-year in a long speech, in which he pressed the contract argument much too far, affirming that but for it the Queen could build upon Hyde Park, though the nation has been pay- ing taxes to maintain the Park for a century, and the resolution was passed without opposition. On Thursday, however, Mr. Taylor opposed the second reading of the Bill to give effect to the resolution, in a clear but poor speech, the point of which was that people were getting tired of the expense of Monarchy ; while Sir Robert Peel, without opposing the grant, indeed while suggesting an increased grant to the Prince of Wales, sneered at the economical habits of the Queen, who he insinuated pocketed money intended to maintain her external state. Mr. Disraeli, of course supported the grant, tut expressed his desire to see the Crown maintained by an estate of its own sufficient to provide all appanages, and supplemented by a Parliamentary vote to be expended on public pageantry alone—a very curious suggestion, which in practice would involve a re-grant of the Crown lands and of the Civil List besides. On a -division only three members voted against the Bill, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Fawcett, and Sir Charles Dilke ; and 352 for it, nearly half the House having stayed away. We entirely agree with the vote, but we regret that its opponents were treated with an inattention which will make itself felt severely at the next election.
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