the 19th of December, after which Mr. Hume moved that the sum granted to
the queen should be reduced from L385,000 to L335,000; and this motion
having been negatived, Mr. Grote proposed as an amendment the entire
removal of the sum allotted to pensions from the civil list. This
amendment was seconded by Mr. Hume, and opposed by the chancellor of the
exchequer, who contended that in a monarchical government, the power
of conferring honour and rewards should be inseparably attached to the
crown. The principle advocated by the honourable member struck at the
very root of monarchy. Mr. Rice proceeded to deny that politics
had influenced ministers in their grant of pensions to literary and
scientific men, as had been asserted by Mr. Grote, and expressed his
belief that were any government disposed so to prostitute its power,
there was a spirit in literature and science which would save talent
from the disgrace of such political profligacy. Mr. Grote's motion was
further opposed by Mr. Charles Buller, albeit he was his friend. He
differed from him both as to tire policy of granting pensions at all,
and in respect to the quarter in which the power of according them
should be placed. He thought that it was desirable that men of letters
should be fostered by the government, when labouring for the public
good, and without the support of popular favour. Scarcely a great name
in English literature could be produced which had not been supported by
regal or individual generosity. At the present day, men of letters would
not brook to receive the bounty of private individuals: men like Hobbes
or Locke, could no longer consent to depend on the liberality of an
Earl of Devonshire, or an Earl of Shaftesbury. On a division Mr. Grote's
amendment was rejected by a majority of one hundred and twenty-five to
twenty-three. An amendment was then moved by Sir Robert Peel, to the
effect that if the sum of L1200 were not granted in pensions in any
one year, the difference might be applied in any subsequent year. No
opposition was made to this amendment on the part of ministers; but the
Radicals divided against them, and it was carried by a majority of one
hundred and fourteen to twenty-six. Another and last protest was made
against the bill by Mr. Hume, but the bill passed without further
division.

The bill was taken to the lords and read a first time on the same
evening. Lord Melbourne moved the second reading on the 20th, and in
doing so entere