There was an attempt made in Supply on Saturday to
reduce one of the votes, for conveying "distinguished persons" across -the Channel in special packets, Mr. Labouchere,Mr. Illingvrorth, and others freely expressing their opinion that these dis- tinguished persons should pay for their own passages across the Channel out of the allowances made them by the country. This seems to us a reasonable demand. It is all very right to support the Throne with a certain liberality and splendour, but there is no reason at all why the members of the Royal Family, once properly provided for, should not pay their own way as other people do, instead of constantly asking for fresh votes of money for the very needless purpose of distinguishing all their movements from those of ordinary subjects. The junior mem- bers of the Royal Family ought not to regard it as a matter of the first importance to the Throne, that they should shrink from all contact with ordinary subjects. In reality, they would make the Throne a great deal more popular by living well within their incomes, and showing their friendliness to the people on the few occasions on which they would be called upon to share the .accommodation provided for less exalted persons.
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