View report page

189
Vestry, in order to ascertain the position of the ratepayers in
such a case, requested the Members of Parliament for
Westminster to ask the Home Secretary what provision the
Government intended to make for restoring the property
damaged by the explosion, or any property which might;
be damaged from any similar cause in future.
The Right Hon. W. H. Smith and Lord Percy thereupon
had an interview with the Home Secretary on the subject,
and subsequently informed the Yestry that it appeared that
even if the outrage were proved to be of political origin (of
which there could be little doubt, although there is no
absolute proof) it would be necessary to obtain a special vole
of the House for any payment from the Consolidated Fund
' by way of compensation, and the Government could not,
under the circumstances, propose a vote for the purpose.
On the '29th January a resolution was unanimously passed
by the Yestry, expressing admiration at the courageous conduct
of Police-constable Cole, in his unsuccessful effort to
remove, at the risk of his life, a parcel of explosives from
Westminster Hail on the 24th of that month. A copy of the
resolution was forwarded to the Commissioner of Police, and
a reply received stating that the Commissioner would have
great pleasure in communicating the same to the constable,
who was then lying in Westminster Hospital, suffering from
the injuries he had received.
MAJORITY OF PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR.
The Yestry unanimously adopted, on the 15th January, a
loyal and dutiful Address to the Queen, congratulating Her
Majesty upon the attainment of his majority by Prince
Albert Yictor of Wales, and praying that the people of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and all its
Colonies and dependencies may long continue united and
contented under the beneficent rule ot Her Majesty.