The worst scene of this Session in Parliament occurred on
Wednesday. Mr. Ayrton, in reply to Mr. Bouverie, declared that he had adhered to his statement of Monday that he was not responsible for the £8,500 voted for the extension of the Victoria Embankment. He had prepared an estimate, but the Treasury had altered it without accounting to him, had pre- sented it without his concurrence, and he had no re- sponsibility. The Commissioner of Works is responsible exactly so far as the Treasury likes, and in this instance he was not so at all. This was open mutiny, and the Captain had to rise and explain that he agreed with his subordinate as to the danger of introducing small estimates, to be followed by large expenditure, but that really he must obey the Articles of War, which made him, even when overridden by a superior, responsible for his work. Mr. Gladstone did it very well, with tact and kindness, allowing for one tremendous rap at Mr. Ayrton, recorded elsewhere ; but the quarrel in the depart- ments was bared before the House. Mr. Ward Hunt asked if Mr. Lowe and Mr. Ayrton were on speaking terms ; Mr. Lowe refused to rise ; Mr. Cowper-Temple said the vote was actually passed and nobody was responsible. The first half of the blame rests with Mr. Ayrton, who mutinied ; but the second half must go to Mr. Lowe, who did not try to explain his own view, or even his own determination, to the Board of Works. He denied, on Thursday, it is true, that he had taken any initiative, but he certainly said in his speech of Monday that he meant to erect buildings for Royal Commissions.
