of it does not follow, and it certainly is not the fact, that
they are more influential. They hold the same place in Liberalism that
Mr. Chamberlain with his republican tendencies (which they do not
profess) and his "three acres and a cow" held to Mr. Gladstone and the
Liberal leaders of thirty or forty years ago. The Conservatives, also,
are not desirous of pushing the issue too far. They believe in and have
tested the affection of rural England for the aristocracy and the
preference of nearly all England for a second Chamber of some kind. But
they do not intend to fight the issue on the hereditary principle. The
acceptance, by a very large majority, of Lord Rosebery's motion in the
Lords declaring that "the possession of a peerage should no longer, of
itself, give the right to sit and vote in the House of Lords," removes
this point from the actual conflict and leaves the Conservatives as
urging a strong, reformed and democratised Upper House against the
Liberal policy of a weakened, emasculated echo of the House of Commons.

[Illustration: THE YOUNG PRINCES AT THE WALL OF MARLBOROUGH HOUSE
WATCHING THE PROCLAMATION OF THEIR FATHER AS KING; AND TEXT OF THE
PROCLAMATION.

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late
Sovereign Lord King Edward the Seventh, of Blessed and Glorious Memory,
by whose Decease the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty
Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert:

We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being
here assisted with these of His late Majesty's Privy Council, with
Numbers of other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor,
Aldermen, and Citizens of London, do now hereby, with one Voice and
Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaim, That the High and
Mighty Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert, is now by the Death of our
late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful
Liege Lord George the Fifth by the Grace of God, King of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions
Beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India:

To whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all
hearty and humble Affection; beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do
reign, to bless the Royal Prince George the Fifth with long and happy
years to reign over Us.

GOD SAVE THE KING!]

[Illustrati