Mr. Briggs, Member for Blackburn, on Friday week brought up
the question of the admission of a statue to Prince Louis Napoleon into Westminster Abbey. In a speech which was far too orna1e and young, but full both of fact and argument, he showed that Parliament had interfered with Westminster Abbey, that Prince Napoleon, as the innocent heir of an evil dynasty, had no claim to be so honoured, and that the admis- sion of the statue would be accepted in France as a declaration of friendliness for a party hostile to the Republic. He moved that it would be " inconsistent with the national character of the Abbey, opposed to the general sentiments of the English people, and calculated to impair the good-feeling " between France and England. Mr. Beresford Hope strongly sup- ported him, though he wished the motion divested of the last two clauses, which was done ; and Mr. Gladstone did not strongly oppose him, though he advised that the motion should be withdrawn, as made too late. Sir Stafford Northcote only contended that the House should not interfere, lest a precedent should be set leading to ex- cited discussions, and that the Dean should be left respon- sible and absolute. Every one who spoke had a kind word for the Dean, but no one seriously defended the admission of the statue ; and Mr. Briggs's motion, as amended, was carried by 171 to 116,—a majority of 55. Few more significant votes have been passed in our time.
Previous page
