reach the respect and honour of our coun- been greatly modified by the fact that trymen I say whichever be the object many towns and localities had determined to be gained, I am sure hon. Members to have memorials of their own. The city, must feel that they are accomplishing an object worthy of this House. And then, when we consider the deep affection which is felt by the whole nation for our gracious Sovereign, when we recollect what a deep and irreparable loss she has sustained by the death of one who was the foundation of the happiness of the happiest possible life when we consider how the feelings of the country sympathize with Her Majesty in that great and irreparable loss, I am persuaded I am not wrong in saying that this House can never be and never has been a more true exponent and organ of the feelings of the country than when they tender, as I trust they will do this evening, respectfully to Her Majesty a token of the deep sympathy which they feel for her misfortune, and of their heartfelt attachment to her person. It may, indeed, be said of the people of this country that they feel they have a Sovereign of whom, without any disparagement to Her Majesty, it may be said they consider her as one of themselves-her joys are considered by them as their joys, her sorrows are partaken by them as sorrows of their own; and I am persuaded, therefore, I am not appealing in vain to the good feelings and loyalty of this House in proposing that we should this evening vote that sum which would be necessary to complete the amount of the subscription raised to the sum which has been estimated as the probable cost of such a memorial as IIer Majesty will select for erection to the memory of the late Prince Consort. The Commissioners have made their Report, and they recommend, as I have stated, a single and personal memorial. I believe the calculated expense of it will be something like £110,000. The subscription reaches nearly to £60,000; and if to that we add £50,000, which we think it our duty to propose to Parliament, I believe the amount will be amply sufficient to erect a memorial which shall be worthy of the country by whom it is raised, and, at the same time, do adequate honour to the late Prince Consort, and be soothing to the feelings of the Sovereign to whom this House and country are so dutifully and loyally attached.

MK. TITE said, he wished to say a few words on the question, in reply to the many inquiries made by hon. Members. The extent of the public subscription had

for instance, that he had the honour to
represent (Bath) instead of sending the
large amount which had been subscribed
to London, had erected a wing to an hos-
pital and called it the Albert wing. With
reference to the drawings now exhibited
for the testimonial itself, they were works
of much commendation, and were the best
he (Mr. Tite) had ever seen.
The sug
gestion of the site was due to Mr. Pen-
nethorne; and as to the designs, the Com-
mission appointed by Her Majesty had ap-
plied to certain architects to advise them:
he was one of that body, who recommended
a limited competition, and the designs now
exhibited were the result of that recom-
mendation. The designs displayed a great
variety of architectural talent. That which
had received the greatest amount of ap-
probation was the cross, designed by Mr.
Gilbert Scott, and it had accordingly been
recommended for adoption. The House
probably knew that he (Mr. Tite) differed
from many other persons with regard to
the use of Gothic architecture for secular
buildings; but for a building of the kind
in question nothing could be more appro-
priate, and nothing more elegant. It was
of a sacred character, and would be asso-
ciated with some of our best recollections,
as it was designed in imitation of the
monuments erected by King Edward I. to
his Queen Eleanor. With regard to the
character of public monuments generally,
the best examples were to be found at
Berlin-as that of Frederick I., by Rauch;
the iron cross on the Kreuzberg, and the
monument to the Queen of Prussia at
Charlottenburg. The designs that were
sent in were various in character, but, as
he had said, upon the whole were highly
creditable to their authors. He wished,
however, to correct one mistake. It had
been supposed that the monumental cross
was to be 300 ft. in height, whereas in fact
it would only be 150 ft.; and the work
would, he believed, be one that would be
satisfactory to the nation, creditable to
the architect, and a worthy memorial of
the illustrious Prince.

MR. CONINGHAM said, he believed that the reason why the public fund had

been found insufficient was because the public did not approve the plans that had been submitted for carrying out the memorial. If anything of a useful character had been proposed, calculated to benefit

posterity, the public subscriptions would
have been doubled and even trebled.
The monuments in the metropolis in the
form of statues had been so unsatisfac-
tory that any sensible man would desire
that any memorial raised to him should
be of a nature calculated to benefit pos-
terity. He hoped it was not too late to
reconsider the matter. At first a mon-
strous monolith was proposed, and now
it was
a still more monstrous Eleanor
cross. It was difficult to say which was
least calculated for the purpose. The
Times newspaper had taken up the ques-
tion in a most dogmatic spirit. At first
it had endeavoured to force the monolith
upon the public by publishing minatory
letters threatening a grant from Parlia-
ment if subscriptions were not given to
a sufficient amount; and now it defended
the Eleanor cross, and professed to know
better than the architect himself, for
nothing less would suit the venerable
ladies of Printing-house Square, as the
hon. Member for Bridgewater called them,
than 300 feet in height. Mere size and
costliness were no recommendations, and
he hoped it was not too late for the
Committee to reconsider the question, and
to recommend to Her Majesty, who, as
far as he knew, had no fixed or definite
opinion upon the subject, a memorial
which should not only perpetuate the
memory of the deceased Prince, but
should prove a lasting benefit to future
generations.

of affairs not altogether satisfactory. No one can doubt the real sympathy that pervaded the country when the great calamity occurred. Indeed, that is scarcely an adequate expression to describe the emotionit was a feeling rather of anguish-anguish for the loss of the Prince who was departed, and equally so for those who were left lone and desolate. Sir, I think there was upon that occasion every desire in the country to express, as far as its contributions could do so, the feelings of the nation. But it is to be observed that at the moment the sympathy of the country was of a personal character. The loss was so sudden, so unexpected, that the natural emotions of the community were all directed to the personal character of him who had passed away. The peerless husband, the perfect father, the master whose yoke was gentleness-the wise and faithful counsellor of the Sovereign, who was his consort-these were the traits in the character of the Prince that attached and appealed to all hearts; and while there was a general desire, by public contributions, to show a sense of those qualities, every community felt that it was equally a judge of those virtues with the metropolis; and there was an immense amount of local subscriptions, which, although inconveniently, were naturally, dedicated to the ornament or utility of the district in which the subscriptions were raised. For example, every person who had a benevolent scheme for raising an hospital or MR. DISRAELI: Sir, I cannot agree founding a school seized that opportunity with the hon. Gentleman (Mr. Coningham) of general sympathy and sorrow, and upon as to the causes he has assigned for the in- the merits of the Prince whom we had lost adequacy of the public contributions for made a successful appeal for funds which this object; nor as to the principle upon they would not otherwise have obtained. which this monument should be elevated. That is the reason why the public contriI think Her Majesty's Government have, butions were not directed to one centre, upon the whole, taken a well-considered and why, with no definite object sufficiently and judicious course in this matter, which held before the observation of the country, was not one altogether free from embar- the public contributions were not of an rassment. The object, indeed, of the me- amount adequate to carry out the object morial is simple, and one of which all ap-now desired. But as time drew on, someprove; but no doubt, from the manner in which it was originally proposed, it had become involved with some circumstances which rendered the course of the Government rather difficult. Sir, I have always felt confident that the common sense of the House would extricate us from that difficulty, and I am gratified to see that Her Majesty's Government are of the same temper, and that by appealing to the House with a proposition which is clear and comprehensible, they have terminated a state

thing of the influence of posterity was exercised upon the opinion of the country, and it became conscious that it had lost, not merely a man of virtuous and benignant character, who had exercised the fine qualities he possessed for the advantage of the community of which he was a prominent member, but it felt that it had lost a man of a very original and peculiar character, who had exercised a great influence upon the age, and which it felt as time advanced would have been still more

sensibly experienced. The character of direct, significant, and choice; so that Prince Albert was peculiar in this re- those who come after us may say, this is spect, that he combined two great quali- the type and testimony of a sublime life ties which are generally considered to be and a transcendent career, and thus they incompatible, and combined those qua- were recognised by a grateful and adlities in a high degree. He united the miring people! faculty of contemplation with the talent of MR. GREGORY said, he was disposaction, and was equally remarkable for ed to agree with the hon. Member for profundity of thought and promptitude of Brighton (Mr. Coningham) as to the reaorganization. Add to these qualities all the virtues of the heart, and the House to a sufficient sum to effect its object. It son why the subscription did not amount will see that the character thus composed arose from an apprehension that the plans was a very remarkable one. He brought adopted were not likely to do credit to the this peculiar temperament to act upon the illustrious person whose loss the nation depublic mind for purposes of great moment, plored. He regretted that the plans had but of great difficulty. The task which the not been, in the first instance, submitted Prince proposed to himself was to extend to the House, and the necessary Vote asked the knowledge, refine the taste, and en- for, because he was afraid lest an impreslarge the sympathies of a proud and an- sion should have been created, that because cient people. Had he not been gifted with there had been a deficiency in the subscripdeep thought and a singular facility and tions, there had been a lack of public zeal happiness of applying and mastering de- to do honour to the Prince. As an Irish tails, he could not have succeeded so fully Member, he was perfectly certain that the as he did in those efforts, the results of Vote would be well received in his coun which we shall find so much the greater as try. So accurately balanced was the mind time goes on, Such being now the impres- of the illustrious Prince, so just was he sion of the country-that we have lost in his thoughts as in all his actions, that not simply an accomplished and benignant he never, throughout his whole career, Prince, but one of those minds which influ- made use of an expression calculated to ence their age and mould the character of give offence to any man in Ireland, of a people-a strong feeling prevails that a whatever politics or whatever religion. memorial should be raised in the metropolis He therefore rejoiced that the Government of the Empire. I believe that that desire had determined to aid in erecting a monuis very general, and therefore the Government, and he hoped it would be of such ment has taken a course which the country a character as to do honour to the memory is not only perfectly prepared for, but ex- of the great Prince whose loss they depected and required. For my own part, I plored. cannot agree with the hon. Member for Brighton (Mr. Coningham), that the public

contributions should be devoted to what is called some purpose of utility. That appears to me to be a fallacious and narrowminded principle. A purpose of utility means that you should endow some charity or erect some building which may illustrate some isolated feeling and feature in the Prince's life. But a public memorial, such as the country requires, should be of a universal and complete description. It should apply to the general sentiments of the country, and should represent, as far as art can represent, the full career of the man, so that future generations may, as the noble Lord observed, behold a monument which may serve for their instruction and encouragement. It should, as it were, represent the character of the Prince himself; in the harmony of its proportions, in the beauty of its ornament, and in its enduring nature. It should be something

VOL. CLXX. [THIRD SERIES.]

that the House would readily grant the money for a monument, provided they were satisfied that it would be worthy of the object it was intended to commemorate. Although the architects recognised elegance of form and beauty of proportion as characteristic of the Eleanor Cross, it might be doubted whether those characteristics would be preserved if the proportions were multiplied in one of gigantic dimensions. He should like, therefore, to know whether it was definitively settled that an Eleanor Cross of three hundred feet high should be erected.

MR. LIDDELL said, he felt assured

MR. TITE said, the cross was to be Mr. one hundred and fifty feet high. Scott himself did not desire greater dimensions.

MR. LIDDELL said, he hoped, at least, that the Government would submit definite plans to the House.

X

MR. GARNETT said, he also trusted that the Government would acquaint the House with the exact design of the monument which was proposed. It appeared to him to be a matter of serious question whether an Eleanor Cross was the fittest memorial for the Prince who had been taken from

them.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: The subscriptions were raised on the distinct understanding that the style and character of the monument should be left entirely to Her Majesty. It is obvious, that unless the subscribers were to meet for the purpose of determining what should be the form of the memorial, their opinion on the subject could not be taken. It is now proposed to add to the fund on precisely the same conditions as those on which it was originally raised. We are tendering this grant to Her Majesty as a token of our sympathy with her in the hour of bereavement, and in order to enable her to gratify her natural feelings. We ought not therefore to impose our notions upon Her Majesty, but ought to leave it to herself to choose the monument which she may deem most suitable.

SIR MORTON PETO said, he had seen the design of the proposed monument, and in his opinion it was impossible to conceive anything more beautiful and more appropriate. But he doubted whether

£110,000 would be sufficient to have it executed in the style which they should desire to see it. If Mr. Scott was to be allowed that latitude which he ought to have in a matter of the kind, with respect to the choice of stone, and other points, he doubted whether the addition of £50,000 would be sufficient; but the House would not hesitate, if necessary, to double that sum, to enable Her Majesty to carry out the design in a manner worthy of the House and the country.

the failure of the monument was by leaving its erection to the House of Commons.

MR. CONINGHAM said, that he had not wished to interfere in any way with the wishes of Her Majesty; he had quite understood that he was discussing and criticising the recommendations of the Commissioners.

MR. POTTS said, he would suggest that the words "not exceeding " should be expunged from the Resolution.

(1.) Resolved, Nemine Contradicente,

That a sum, not exceeding £50,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March 1864, towards the Expense of a National Memorial for His late Royal Highness the Prince Consort.

SUPPLY-EXCHEQUER BONDS.

(2.) £85,925, Expedition to Kertch and Yenikale.

VISCOUNT PALMERSTON: I now rise, Sir, to make the other Motion of which I have given notice. The House will re

collect that there was considerable discusKertch and Yenikale prize money, and sion last year upon the subject of the that great complaints were made of the long delay which had taken place in deciding whether this prize money should be granted, upon what principles, and in what transactions of 1855. A joint expedition proportion. The question arose out of the of French and English troops and ships took possession of Kertch, and opened the passage to the Sea of Azoff; and this led to the operations which were afterwards so successfully carried on in the interior of that sea. valuable property was taken, consisting of A great deal of about £70,000 worth of coals, machinery of great value, guns, and stores of other descriptions. The coals were used by the ADMIRAL DUNCOMBE said, he hoped British and French ships of war nearly in that the grant would be quite uncondi-equal proportions. The machinery was tional. Should it happen that £50,000 applied to the service of the British navy, was insufficient to complete the design, and was of the greatest use in the course there would be no difficulty in obtaining of the operations which followed, up to the assent of the House to a supplemen- the termination of the war; and a very tary grant. large sum was saved to the public by the SIR GEORGE BOWYER said, he fully means which that machinery gave of keepagreed that the House ought not to inter-ing in repair, upon the spot, the fleet fere with the mode in which the grant was to be expended. Besides, he never knew any public work carried on under the direction of the House which turned out satisfactorily. The best way to insure

employed in the Black Sea. Part of that machinery is now at Gibraltar, and is used and available for the public service. The value of stores which were captured was estimated at about £119,000, includ

ing in that the £60,000 or £70,000 which was the estimated value of the coals. But one-half of these coals was consumed by the French navy, and their value must be deducted in calculating the sum which was taken possession of, and liable to be distributed to the seamen and soldiers of the two services. That reduced the amount to about £85,000. Now, there was a considerable discussion between the Treasury and the Admiralty with regard to the claims which the two services had for a Vote of this House, in compensation for the stores which were thus taken

(3.) £1,000,000, to pay off and discharge Exchequer Bonds. Vote agreed to.

House resumed.

Resolutions to be reported To-morrow ; Committee to sit again To-morrow.

WAYS AND MEANS.

Order for Committee read.
Motion made, and Question proposed,
"That Mr. Speaker do now leave the
Chair.”

MR. LINDSAY said, he had placed on the paper a notice with respect to the sugar duties; but as he had no objection to the Budget on the whole, he thought it would be more convenient if he took an opportunity of stating his views on the particular subject to which he referred in Committee.

THE INCOME TAX.-RESOLUTION.

from them and applied to the public service. It was thought at one time, that the question being rather an intricate one, it ought to be referred to a court of law; but, upon further communication with the Law Officers of the Crown, and upon further consideration, Her Majesty's Government came to the conclusion that the claim was irresistible, that it would be confirmed by a court of law, and that there was no MR. ROEBUCK: Like my hon. Friend, reason why the delay and expenses inci- I have no objection to the Budget as a dent to an appeal to a court of law should whole. I believe it is a very good one for be thrown upon the parties. It was de- the country; but as I want to have the termined therefore to propose, in the course opinion of the House upon a general proposiof this Session, a Vote of this House; tion, I must submit it before you, Sir, leave and the Vote which I am now proposing the Chair. The principle which I wish this is calculated according to the value of the House to affirm is this-that on a renewal of stores which were seized by our sailors the income tax a lower charge should be and troops at Kertch and Yenikale, and imposed on precarious than that placed on applied to the public service, and in re-permanent incomes. The whole thing lies spect of which the seamen and troops engaged had a claim to compensation. The proportion in which the two services were engaged was about two to one that is to say the navy represented twothirds of the expedition, and the military one-third; and therefore what we propose is, that the £85,000, which I am now asking the House to vote, shall be divided in that proportion between the two services.

COLONEL DUNNE said, he was happy to find that the grant would at last be made to the troops and seamen engaged in the Kertch and Yenikale expedition. It was seven years since the capture took place, and it was lamentable that in all cases of prize money such delays should occur, so that the persons entitled often died in want and misery before the money was distributed. In the present instance he hoped that the ordinary rules which guided the distribution of prize money would not be departed from.

Vote agreed to.

in so narrow a space that I shall not oc-
cupy the time of the House for many
minutes. I assume the general proposi-
tion that taxation ought to be levied on
every man according to his ability to pay
it. That, I know, is a general proposition
which is subject to several exceptions.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer may,
however, say, "Your proposition is a fair
one; but there are so many anomalies in
the imposition of the income tax, that if you
do very
little
remove only one of them, you
good, and therefore I think you had better
leave the matter as it is." Now, I am not
prepared to acquiesce in that conclusion.
Let me illustrate the argument.
suppose a roundabout road to a particular
spot, and that a person proposes an altera-
tion which will not make it perfectly straight
or the shortest road possible. If it is said
to him, Why do you seek to alter the
road? You cannot make it straight." His
answer ought to be, "I cannot make it
straight, but I can approximate to some
straightness, and pray permit me to effect
the alteration." I want to direct the at-

66

I will