Year: 1871

MIR. Gladst enc the Dowrv Hesoiutten.


In the House of Commons on Feb. 13, Mr..
Gladstone rose to move resolution granting
an annuity of G6000 to her Royal Highness,
which, he explained, would be supplemented in
Committee Of Supply by the grant of dowry
of ESQ, 600. Assuming with great regret aud
pain that the motion was not to be passed unsni-
mously, Mr.. Gladstone went on to combat the
objections which might be raised to 1t. In mar
rying her daughter to subject the
Queen had not proceeded without
the advice of her responsible Min
listers; and she had acted in accordance
with the womanly and motherly character which
has always led her to choose for her daughters
husbands on whose principles she could rely.
The practice, too, was not new one in our his
tory, and it was quite agreeable to the usages
and social spirit of the country. The provision
was not immoderate compared with analogous
grants to the daughters of George III, for in
stance. Replying to the suggestion that the
Crown ought to save out of its income
for these purposes, he pointed out that
though the Queens income was large, Its appli-
cation was TO great extent predetermined, and
that during the whole of the present reign its
economical management had been an example
to every household in the country. The civil
list, he argued, when settled at the commence
ment of the reign, did not contemplate provi
sions of this nature, nor would it be convenient
that it should. He pointed out that though the
Crown Lands now produced income only
about equal to the civil list, If they were
managed in the same manner as a private estate
they would put the sovereign in possession of the
largest income in the country. What, for in
stance, If Hyde Park and the other metropolitan
parks were cut up into building plots3 But Mr..
Gladstone put the proposition on higher grounds,
dilating on the political importance of support
ing the dignity of the Crown in a becoming
manner, on the value of stable dynasty, and
on the unwisdom of entering into too minute
pecuniary calculations such an occasion,
The motion was seconded by Mr.. Dlsraeli, and
was carried by reclamation, though Mr.. P Tay-
tnr f0 ho ricfn tn mo
ment after Mr.. Dodson had put the question,
when 1t was too late.


Elaborate Preparations for the NuptIsiss


The London Times of February 13 says:-
"Since the return of her Majesty the Queen and
the royal family to Windsor Castle, the prepa-
rations for the nuptials of her Royal Highness
Princess Louise and the Marquis of Lorne have
received considerable impetus. On Saturday,
under the immediate superintendent of Mr.. w.
Seabrook her Majesty's Inspector of Palaces,
the workmen in the Lord Chamberlain's depart
ment commenced the decoration of the retiring
room for the royal bridesmaids. which has been
erected at the west end of the south aisle of the
Chapel Royal of st. George.


'The interior walls win be richly and hand
somely decorated with choice fabrics, and on
Saturday experiments were made for the pur-
pose of selecting the precise colors for use ia
the adornment of this chamber, which, when
finished, will be richly carpeted and suitably
furnished for the occasion from the Castle
stores. The retiring room for the royal brides
maids is only few PAGES from the west door or
grand entrance of the cathedral.


''The Albert Memorial Chapel, 1t appears, is to
be used as cloak room for the illustrious per-
sonages invited to attend the ceremony. Here
the majority of the guests will assemble, and
pass the entrance to the cloisters into the
aisle of st. Georges Chapel either up short
flight of temporary stairs to the gallery erected
in the south aisle, the altar, or by the door
beneath the Queens closet, or west door, into
the choir of the chapel, and SO take the seats
allotted to them. The space in front of the
communion rails between the ends of the seats
of the Knights of the Garter and the rails in
front of the altar will be oyered with board and
carpeted, thus forming level platform for the
purposes of the marriage and hiding the steps
leading up to the altar. Jusr outside the south
door as the visitor enters the cathedral is the
Bray Chapel. This Is sort of alcove, partly
shut off from the nave by paneled work. Access
is gained to it by an ancient door leading from
the interior of the cathedral, and 1t is within
this recess that the bridegroom and groomsmen
will assemble previous to the hour fixed for the
Royal wedding.


"Of the precise form of ceremony which will
be carried out on the 21st of March little can at
| present be gathered, but from the arrangements
| already in progress 1t may be inferred that the
| bridegrooms procession will be formed at the
the front of the altar, and that her Royal High.
| ness Princess Louise, probably accompanied by
| her Majesty the Queen, will drive from the
| Grand Quadrangle of the Castle through the
| entrance to the Horseshoe Cloisters, alight al
! the steps of the west or grand entrance of the
| cathedral, and be met at the door by the brides
maids, proceeding up the centre of the nave


and through the choir to the front of the altar
| where the nuptial knot will be tied"