NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Tr HE great debate of the Session came off on Thursday, and
ended in a defeat of the Opposition by 805 to 200, an over- whelming majority. Mr. Disraeli having explained last week that the addition which he proposed to the Queen's titles was that of "Empress of India," having refused, in answer to Mr. Ernest Noel, to publish any Indian papers on the subject, and having informed Sir W. Harcourt that hnhad not consulted the Viceroy, the Opposition leaders, though naturally unwilling to oppose any project favoured by her Majesty, resolved to resist, and Lord Hartington moved that, "while willing to consider a measure enabling her Majesty to make an addition to the Royal Style and Title which shall include such Dominions- of her Majesty as to her Majesty may seem meet, this House is of opinion that it is inexpedient to impair the ancient and Royal dignity of the Crown by the assumption of the style and title of 'Empress.'" He supported this motion in an unusually powerful speech, in which he argued that the English people greatly disliked the proposal, condemned the Government for the mystery it had maintained, demanded evidence that the natives of India desired the change, pleaded the right of the Colonies to be included if any change were made, quoted numerous instances in which the new title would seem burdensome or ridiculous,— for instance, are we to speak of "Queen-Empress, Lords and Commons,"—and wound up with an eloquent panegyric on the title under which the country had been so prosperous, and the loyalty of the people had grown into a passion.
