PRINCELY LIBERALITY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1063, 6 July 1869, Page 3

PRINCELY LIBERALITY.

(Prom the "Melbourne '"Loader'," 12th June.) Hitheeto it has been customary to characterise any unusually . generous action 'as " princely." We talk of princely gifts, of princely dcmeanoiir, of princely behaviour, Tho simple adjective is accepted as comprehensive enough to cover and include all other less emphatic methods of .expressing what is lofty, unselfish,- and noble. In seeking a. term -to express- -the exact converse of mean, wo would probably select the term princely. We fear it will be necessary to re-write our dictionaries. Experience is teaching us, amongst other things, that to be princely and to be mean may, under certain conditions, be convertible terms. There may be in effect no violent conflict between the two, even if applied to the same person. The Hon. Eliot Yorke expressed an opinion that Australian colonists were deficient in their knowledge o.f the English language, but — we are learning. ■ '

Seldom has there ..been- expressed in Melbourne such universal disgust and annoyance as afc the application of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to the British Parliament for a sum of money to compensate him for the gifts he had bestowed during his visit to the Cape of Good Hope and Australia. That his Royal Highness made such an application, the presumptive evidence is sufficiently strong. If it had been originally intended that H.R.H. was to disburse on behalf.- of tlie British 'people complimentary dole during* his tour abroad, such avoujd surely, have been provided for in previous estimates. in this case.it is sufficiently obvious that our royal guest kept carefulaccount of his givings whilst amongst us, for there are even odd shillings (but, strange to say, no pence) in the money claim he has preferred against the people of Great Britain. And really, as his Royal Highness has been thus commendably precise in his book-keeping, and has, no doubt, furnished the Home Government with an exact schedule of his bestowings, it would bo a matter of profound interest to learn the names of the recipients. It would enhance the value of each mark of royal favor that tho receivers thereof should not bo permitted to languish unknown from natural distate to appear boastful of having been thus signalised. Tho happy participators in the bounty of H.R.H. have, with a very few exceptions, kept themselves carefully in the back ground. It is not altogether unknown that some scarf-pins were presented to a few gentlemen whose official position had thrown them into contact with H.RH. the Duke of Edinburgh. But it is equally true that, in at least one instance, the jeweller's bill was defrayed by the Reception Committee. We think it is due to the people of Australia that the detailed accounts of the cost of entertainment of the Queen's son should be made public here and in England. As H.R.H. has chosen to advertise, for the information of the world, the great expense to which he has been subjected here, it would be only just to exhibit the other side of the account. If princes can thus look back regretfully upon a species of outlay which is generally regarded as spontaneous, thero need be little hesitation in peoples doing likewise. Let us have the opportunity, of putting the per contra fairly. And lot there bo carefully omitted all. reference to those offerings to H.R.H. which, from a portmanteau upwards, he was always too gracious torefuse.

It may, perhaps, bo urged that it is really no concern of ours that the British Pai^iament should, .if. it cligoses, recoyp the Duke of Edinliargli. the .£3374 14s. which it is alleged were distributed in gratuities. Some may suggest that if the British tax-payer likes to submit to that kind of thing, ire colonists have no right to be critical. But the matter, if is generally felt, wears another aspect. Wo stand in the position of hosts who have apparently mulcted an honored guest in penalties for his graciou'sness. It looks as though H.R.H. had been sponged upon by those who were bound -by all the claims of hospitality and loyalty to uso > him differently. Whether ho meant it or not, his Royal Highness the Duke of Ediiir burgh has affixed a stigma to the colonies. The Australian people are better givers than receivers. They feel that the bounty of the British Parliament, oven ' through an august channel, would have been more fitly bestowed upon British paupers than upon ourselves w.ho needed it not. Tins latest princely, development has provoked much plain speaking. Hitherto there has been a considerate and guarded silence with respect to the moral influences which the visit of a member of the reigning family had exorcised. . Before fI.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh had arrived, it was felt that her Majesty the Queen had happily conceived a gracious method of showing her loyal and loving Australian subjects that, although distant, they wero not forgotten. And, so far as our Queen is concerned, that feeling remains. There was also tho further opinion, that the Duke's visit would tend to draw closer thoseloving links which bind us to the Throne— that in the son wo would find the reflex of those virtues which have illuminated themother's rule — that that gracious consideration for others which was looked for as an inherited virtue would exercise a wholesomo consorvative influence upon a community somewhat disposed to bo guided by its own will only. We fear that tho effect (if any) of tho visit ■ of H JR. H. has been diametrically opposite. The prestige of Royalty has been lowered in the minds of tho people." Devoted to selfish pleas ures— kckiug that consideration for-the Queen's subjects in which his august mother never failed —associating almost openly with persons of vile character— H.E.H. the Duke of Edinburgh caused the deepest pain to all who looked upou his visit in any other than a superficial light. In their enthusiasm the Australian Colonies gave way to extravagances ; but they were the extravagances'of loyalty and generosity. And in marked contrast with all this is now brought au example of Royal -thrift which should not be lost upon us when any similar occasion may present itself. It is just possible that the resources of H.R.H. have been misrepresented, and that his poverty, and hot his will, consented to his ad miscrecordiam appeal to thapeople of England to become the sponsors of his impetuous liberality. It is popularly supposed that the Prince's income is £15,000 per annum, besides his naval pay and allowances. If this does not suffice for the gratification of his liberal impulses, let the British Parliament so provido for the Queen's son that he may not be driven to so painful a necessity as a special Parliamentary vote, which from its very nature degrades the Australian Colonies, and outrages the feelings of the Queen's loyal subjects abroad.

Private information lias been received at Adolaide by the mail, that both the Anglo- Australian telegraph . companies formed in England, propose taking the cable to the west coast of Australia.

The report of the Commission ia Trickor's case hi\s been laid on the table of the House, and ordered. to be printed. The report is said to be unfavourable to any interference with the decision of the Court,