A public meeting, convened by the Lord Mayor, was held
on Tuesday at the Mansion House in furtherance of the National Memorial to Queen Victoria. In the absence through illness of Lord Salisbury, Mr. Balfour, who moved the first resolution, observed that there never had been a Monarch whose death had produced so instantaneously, so powerfully, and so harmoniously a single great emotion in every part of the world. It was natural and fitting that they should endeavour to translate this great emotion into some permanent and tangible record, and he vindicated the decision of the Committee that no utilitarian memorial, or one that was in any way limited, sectarian, or political, could fitly commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria. Without going into details as to the scheme framed by the Committee, he announced that the memorial would be erected in front of Buckingham Palace, and would probably include "some great architectural and scenic, change in that part of London" which would make it worthy of its subject. Sir William Harcourt, who described himself as "one of the oldest servants of Queen Victoria," supported Mr. Balfour in a speech marked by deep feeling and dignified eloquence. He dwelt with great truth on the inadequacy of our monumental commemorations. Here was a great occasion; neither the will nor the means was lacking ; let them, therefore, set to work to give to this memorial a shape worthy of a great memory. Other speeches were delivered by Mr. Chamberlain, the Governor of the Bank of England, and the Chairman of the Stock Exchange, and a list of subscriptions was announced by the Lord Mayor, headed by a, contribution of 1,000 guineas from the King.
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