Debate re Tynwald 1890

The following is taken from "The Times" reports of Debates in the Manx Legislature Vol VII - covering 15 Oct to 19 Dec 1890

TYNWALD DAY.

The following notice of motion stood in the name of Mr A. W. MOORE, one of the hon. members for Middle:-

That the attention of the Tynwald Court Ceremonial Committee be directed to make arrangements with a view to avoiding the great disorder which has prevailed upon the Tynwald Hill on the 5th July.

Mr MOORE : This Court will be aware, or rather it will not have forgotten, the resolution that was previously carried for the appointment of a committee, but I think that perhaps it would facilitate matters if I read that motion. It was " that a committee be appointed to consider what steps it may be advisable to take to improve the character of the ceremony of the promulgation of Insular laws at Tynwald Hill on the 5th July, and report to this court." I do not think that the powers of that Committee quite extend to what I wish carried out; and I, therefore, propose to add to my motion that their powers be extended for that purpose. At any rate, it will enable the matter to be dis-cussed. It would appear that the Tynwald Court Ceremonial Committee directed their attention to two points in their endeavour to improve the ceremonial. The first was to attempt to improve the service in the chapel; and the second by adding to what I think might be described as the ornamental personages-(laughter)-who take part in it. With regard to the first point, a very good step has been taken in securing the services of our excel-lent Peel choir. (Hear, hear.) But I venture to think that the good results of that step were quite nullified by having that abominable hurdy-gurdy in the organ loft. It was really quite painful to hear the unfortunate choir trying to smother the discordant noise. Some of the members bore it with coolness, but I saw by the faces of one or two of the Committee that it did not meet with their approval; and I observed the placid brow of even the hon. member for Garff, Mr Mylrea, wrinkled into a hard frown. (Laughter.) As for the hon. member for Peel, his remarks on that occasion were exceedingly forcible. (Renewed laughter.) With reference to the ornamental part of the ceremonial, I venture to think that the spirit of the day is somewhat against this-what I would venture to call-fancy costume. I think we have perhaps gone far enough in that direction, I might suggest that a great deal of time would be saved if the time occupied in signing all the Acts could be dispensed with. It might be worth while legislating that the Acts might to signed by the Governor and Speaker only. But since the Committee has been appointed, an evil has been apparent, which, though it existed before, on the last Tynwald Day assumed much larger proportions. I refer to the great disorder at Tynwald Hill itself. (Hear, hear.) Many per. sons will remember what occurred. No sooner had the procession arrived on the Hill, than it was literally taken by storm, mainly, I believe, by those who had reserved seats in the Chapel; and no sooner had these people arrived on the Mount, than they set up such a chatter that it was absolutely impossible to hear what was going on, that neither his Honour the Deemster, nor the Coroner of Glanfaba, could be heard at all, at least, not to be understood. It reminded me of nothing so much as an evening party at which two persons are selected to play a duet on the piano, the object of the performance being to encourage the guests to talk. (Loud laughter.) The only difference was that the guests needed no such encouragement. I might suggest that this state of things might be cured, in the first place by permitting no one to ascend the Hill unless they are specially summoned or invited, and, to enable that to be carried out, that a cordon should be formed round the Hill by the soldiers or police. There was another occurrence which might have led to a serious accident. I think most of the members must have noticed while we were on the Hill that a horse bolted with a trap, and it was simply chance that a number of people were not injured. I would suggest that if there is no room for the people within the fences, that a space should be cleared further back for them, in order that the horses and traps would not be mixed up with the people. I think the people, though they cannot hear what is going on even under the most improved circumstances, at least have a right to see what is going on, but at present they could not understand what was going on. All they could see was a crowd behind your Excellency, and the members of the Council and Keys were crowding around in front. so that it was quite impossible to see anything. I think if it is found impossible to cure this disorder, the sooner the ceremony of the Tynwald Court is given up the better- (hear, bear)-so that the laws should be promulgated either in this room or in that which his Honour promises us shortly, where some order could be maintained. But I venture to think order can be maintained at Tynwald Hill on this occasion, and, if so, I think it is a great pity that this ceremony, Though practically useless in these days of the Press and compulsory education, should be abolished. Of course it is quite useless from a practical point of view. That has been shown by the fact that now we are in the habit of merely reading the marginal notes, which no one understands. But I venture to think that though devoid of practical utility,yet a ceremony which is at least venerable from its antiquity, and which must be interesting to many from the historical associations connected with it, ought not to be done away with if we can possibly render it decent, respectable, and orderly. (Hear, hear.) I move, "That the attention of the Tynwald Court Ceremonial Committee be directed to making arrangements with a view to avoiding the great disorder which has prevailed upon the Tynwald Hill on the 5th July."

Mr LAUGHTON : I will second it. As one of the Committee to whom the Tynwald ceremonial matters were referred, and as the proposer of the resolution by virtue of which that Committee was appointed, I am going to make a few remarks with reference to what has fallen from the hon. member for Middle. I think he was quite right in stating what he did of the scene of disorder at Tynwald Hill on the 5th July last. It did not reflect credit on us to form part of the procession at the ceremony. The scene on the Hill was most disorderly and un-seemly. There was always that chattering of ladies. The people flocked in so that we could not see your Excellency, and we could not trader-stand a word the Deemster said, except one thing-which he always pronounces a little louder, where he proposes three cheers for the Queen. But that is about all that was audible. I think the Committee ought to take into consideration some improved method with reference to that. I think what has fallen from the hon.. member for Middle deserves some consideration, namely, that with regard to those whose attendance is necessary, instead of standing round your Excellency, it would be much better, and would certainly show much more deference to the office you hold, if they were to stand behind your Excellency, so that the people might see not only your Excel-lency, but your assessors who are there also. I think the Committee will take that into consideration. The hon. member for Middle says that none should come up there but those who are summoned. I don't know about that. 1 am rather in favour of going back to the old times. My frame of mind is in favour of culling wisdom from the past, and not denouncing it as folly In former times it is laid down that the Commons were to stand without the circle of the hill with three clerks in their surplices. That is much more proper-that the Commons should stand outside the hill, and I don't think we should be very unwise if we were to go back to somethinglike that. The hon. member who proposed this motion mentioned in the course of his speech that a horse and trap ran away. Well, I don't see that we are responsible for the people that are in the fair. Perhaps we might have a committee who so duties it would be to walk through the fair-(laughter)-but I don't think that comes within the scope of our discussion. The last remark which the hon.. member made I cannot agree with it at all. At the risk of being ridiculed as "an old fogie" and a "fossil," I beg leave to hope that the ceremony of promulgating the laws on Tynwald Hill will be continued as it has been for centuries past. Considering that we had a House of Keys ages before the House of Commons was in existence, and that the laws have always been promulgated in this most interesting manner, though perhaps not always from St. John's, I think we should be careful to preserve it. (Hear, bear.) I should be sorry indeed if we were to lose what the hon.. member calls " a ceremony that is venerable from its antiquity." We have too few of those things, and I should like to cherish them. (Hear, hear.)

Mr MOORE : As a matter of personal explanation, I wished to point out that I entirely agree with the hon.. member for Peel that we ought to preserve this ceremonial, but I think what I said was that if we could not keep it up as it ought to be kept up it should be done away with. At the same time, I said I was perfectly sure we were able to do so.

Mr FARRANT : My hon. friend the member for Middle, in his opening remarks, has certainly directed attention to the proceedings at Tynwald Hill, but he has also criticised the proceedings inside the chapel. Now, I have always understood that to meddle with or criticise musical people or musical performances was one of the most conspicuous examples that could be adduced of human rashness. (Laughter.) I should advise the hon. member to leave curates and musical performers alone-perhaps I should say "severely alone." (Renewed laughter.) With regard to the singing, that is not a matter of very much consequence, and I scarcely think it is worth while to bring that matter forward. With regard to the proceedings outside, I had not the advantage of being present at the last Tynwald Court at St. Johns, but I have been present at more of those gatherings than I care to recollect, and I must say that the most disorderly people I have ever seen at any Tynwald are comprised in the body of gentlemen to whichI have the honour to belong. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) We used to struggle up the hill and back to the chapel in a most undignified way; but I thought that matters had been very much improved in recent years. I don't know whether we marched with exactly military precision, but we have fortunately among our members two military authorities of very considerable eminence-(laughter)-and I should like to hear them assure us that we marched with as much precision and with our ranks as well dressed as her Majesty's Foot Guards could do it. There were some other remarks made with regard to the chattering on the hill. That chattering, I have observed, is chiefly carried on by ladies and clergymen-(laughter)-but, however that might be, there is a gentleman in this Court who can understand that no ceremonial committee is needed in order to put a stop to this nuisance. A few curt orders from his Excellency's lips would be sufficient to remedy the matter. All he has got to do is to give his orders to the police to prevent any person coining up who is not officially entitled or who has not received permission to be present. I think it rests with his Excellency entirely, and that it falls entirely within his jurisdiction and authority. But I was astonished and profoundly thankful to hear words issue from the lips of my hon.. and esteemed friend the hon. member for Middle, which actually seem to me to savour of impiety. (Laughter.) He has tried to moderate it subsequently, but really when in the full career of his eloquence I thought he proposed, as a preferential alternative to be taken to the ceremony at St. John's, the promulgation of the Acts which have received the assent of the Manx Legislature and Her Majesty's Government in this room. (Hear, hear.) I hope that my hon. friend has repented of a proposal which, however made, and however qualified are its terms, seems to me not only to savour of disregard of the most cherished feelings of the Manx people but almost I would say of profanity. (Laughter.) I believe -with the High-Bailiff of Peel, who has expressed it far better than I could do-I believe that the assembly on Tynwald Hill is one of the most attractive and picturesque of those surviving usages of ancient times which we now retain, and I should be sorry that any proposal should ever be seriously made to abrogate that ancient, that picturesque, that respected, and, I would add, that useful ceremonial. It is useful to us in many ways. It not only leads our thoughts back to the past, but it also draws a large crowd ofvisitors. I venture to think that all the evils with regard to disorder, with regard to chatter-ing, and that interference with hearing on the Mount can be immediately rectified by his Excellency. (Hear, hear.)

The CLERK of the ROLLS : I must say that the opinions which have been expressed as to the scene which took place on the Tynwald Hill, last 5th July, have certainly been understated very greatly. A more disgraceful scene I never witnessed, and I never thought that things would come to such a pass as they did. Now one, of the most scandalous parts of the whole thing has never been alluded to at all, and that was this. If the whole thing is a farce, I say wipe it away-no matter who objects-but at the very time the Coroners were kneeling on the ground, and the oath was being administered by the Deemster, there were several people a few feet away, laughing and turning the whole thing into ridicule. Before the face of men who were kneeling down and taking the oath, this was going on all the time. Another incident that took place was this. A young clergyman-I don't think he was one of the Manx clergy-stood with his hat on immediately behind the Deemster's back, between the Deemster and the Governor, the whole time the Deemster was reading the marginal notes of the Acts. Though he could not help but observe that everyone else was uncovered, he continued in that way with his hat on, chattering and talking, immediately behind the Deemster's back the whole time, I am sorry to say anything against the fair sex, but I must agree with the hon. member for Glanfaba, who was either rash enough or courageous enough, as the case may be to have said that that constituted a large element of disorder on that occasion. One amusing incident was when the Deemster had nearly concluded reading the notes, and the Coroner was repeating them in Manx, a young lady addressing herself to me, asked, " When are they going to begin to read the laws." (Laughter). " Well," I said, "they have been reading them, and they have very nearly finished." " Oh," she said, " I never heard a word of them." I replied, " I am not at all surprised at that, but at all events you must admit you have had the liberty of free speech." (Laughter). This was the sort of thing that was going on in the tent daring the whole ceremony. I agree with what has been said, that it is not a question of taste, but a question of what is right. I say that the clergy have no business in that tent at all. Their place is outside. They have the same right to stand outside as the Keys have; and if the Keys stood outside I think it would be a great deal better. I think it is exceedingly bad taste to crowd in, in the way they do. I agree again with the hon.. member for Glanfaba, that they were a very disturbing element on the occasion; and there is not the same excuse for them as for the ladies. We can hardly expect the ladies to take such a very serious view. I think we would forgive much to them that we would not forgive to others. Again, there was no proper cordon round the Hill, and the people were able to come in at the back, surreptitiously, and did so. The whole thing was a general scene of utter disorder. You could not tell what was going on, or what was being said. But no one would think that the highest Court in the land was supposed to be sitting there with an unusual amount of state and ceremony; and I consider it was most inappropriate, because, if you keep up the thing at all, that was what it ought to be. But to say that it was so held would be perfectly monstrous. At the risk of being thought unpatriotic, I can say that I am one of those, unfortunately, who don't take that very sentimental view as to the preservation of the promulgation ceremony at Tynwald Hill. I am tolerably indifferent as to whether it is continued, or whether it is wiped away; but I do maintain that if it is continued it should be continued with decency at all events. (Hear, hear.) Somebody said that it was just as bad in Governor Loch's time, but that was not so; and, in my knowledge, no lady was introduced into the tent without having first asked and gained his Excellency's consent. Contrast that with the present state of things. I would point out that this Committee appears to me to have un-fortunately utterly neglected their duty. As to that, there can be no question. But they appear also to have misconceived their duties ; and the present motion of the hon. member for Middle is conceived in the same spirit of misconception The Committee appear to have looked on themselves as a sort of executive body; whereas, in point of fact, their duty was purely ministerial. If the hon. member is right in saying they have taken certain steps and made certain improvements, then I say they were not appointed to do that. They were appointed simply to consider and report to the Court upon it, leaving to the Court to decide what was to be done afterwards. I don't know what was done. I am speaking from what the hon. member has said to-day, and his present motion is certainly conceived in the same spirit, because he say:, " that they be directed to make arrangements." They had nothing to do with making arrangements ; but what they were appointed to do they have not done. Two years have elapsed, and they have never made any report at all to this Court. I don't wonder at his Lordship being surprised at that; but it is correct. We are now in October, 1890, and that Committee was appointed in October, 1888, and they have made no report up to the present hour. I intend to move, as an amendment to this motion, "That his Excellency be requested by this Court to take steps for the preservation of proper order and decorum at the Tynwald Hill ceremony on July 5th." I don't know that anything further is required. It is his Excellency's duty, and if you put it in the hands of any other body you withdraw what his Excellency ought to do. Consider the position. It is the Court sitting there, with his Excellency as President. I did not see where the head of the other branch was on the last occasion--(laughter)-but his Excellency was there, in the chair, at all events. ` The preservation of order is just as much his own matter as it is of the judge of an ordinary court which sits here. The judge of the court has to maintain order, and see that, while the court is sitting, what is decorous and proper prevail. His Excellency has full power, sitting there as the highest official judge in the Isle of Man, and representing her Majesty as well. He is sitting in that Court as President of the Court, and with him rests the maintenance of order. (Hear, hear.) I would be quite willing not to press the matter, but leave it with his Excellency.

Mr LAUGHTON : The Clerk of the Rolls is quite right. The Committee have never attempted to do anything but merely suggest to your Excellency.

The CLERK of the ROLLS. If the hon. member for Middle will withdraw his motion, I think mine will meet the case.

Mr MOORE : I accept his Honour's suggestion with very great pleasure. It was very hastily drawn at the end of the Court. I seem not to have thoroughly conceived the objection he has taken. However, my object has been entirely met, and I withdraw my motion with pleasure.

The LORD BISHOP : Before that motion is withdrawn, I think it is only just for the Committee that certain replies should be given to certain charges that have been made. There is not a member of the Committee who would have recognised in any way whatever that we had power to make arrangements with reference to the ceremonial of the Tynwald Court, and I beg to assure his Honour that we have never made, marred, nor amended anything whatever. We have simply acted under our instructions. (Hear, here.) But as a committee, we were very much impressed with the importance of making the ceremonial on Tynwald day what it ought to be. We thought if that ceremonial was at all attended with disorder and ridicule its days are numbered; but we believe, as well, that, among all the institutions of the Isle of Man, there is not one in the eyes of a stranger more interesting, more unique, and, from its antiquity, more highly respected than that ceremonial. (Hear, hear.) We desired, therefore, in what we undertook, that, with his Excellency's consent, we should make experimental operations ; and it will be in the memory of the Court that, at the last Tynwald Court but one, there was introduced a printed form of service, which reflected great credit on our local printer, Mr Johnson. It was a beautiful piece of work. It will be remembered that nothing could be more admirable than the order of procession to the Mount. We felt that we had material to that extent in our report. The hon. member for Middle, in describing the instrument, has made use of the term hurdy, gurdy. (Laughter.) I may explain that the organ at the chapel was really one of our difficulties. We considered how that could be replaced, and we sent out and got tenders from the principal organ builders for the supply of a new instrument. All that material is ready, and it wants only our next meeting to decide what kind of an organ, with his Excellency's consent, is to be purchased. I was not present on Tynwald Day this year. It was not a matter of choice with me, for I should have wished to be present. I was very sorry that all the disorder took place. I received a letter from his Excellency when I was staying at Aix-les-Bains, saying that the state of things at Tynwald Mount was not creditable, and suggesting that we should bring it before that Committee. His Excellency, therefore, lost no opportunity; but what his Excellency naturally wished was that, as there was a Committee sitting, they might naturally put before him material in order that he might make those arrangements which we all desire. I beg to assure his Honour the Clerk of the Rolls that that Committee is impressed with a sense of its duty. (Hear, hear.) It is true that two years have elapsed, and, I am sorry to say. that some blame does fall on some hon. members for not attending. The Attorney-General was never absent on any of the occasions we met; but there are certain members of the Committee who have been very eloquent with their advice in this discussion, but with whose observations we have not been favoured in the Committee. (Hear, hear, and laughter.)

Mr LAUGHTON : I was present at every meeting when I was on the Island.

The LORD BISHOP : I shall be very sorry to contradict the hon. member. He was not present at the last meeting, and he was on the Island. (Laughter.) Be that as it may, the Committee were fully impressed with a sense of their duties, and I trust, before long, we shall be able to present a report. I do not know that anything more is necessary. I have shown the action of the Committee, and I have shown that his Excellency has not been insensible to the doubt that prevails as to whether the ceremony has been made as perfect as possible. The Tynwald Mount is very limited in its dimensions; but I believe it is just as it used to be in former days, and whether it be its structure or dimensions I will never consent to meddle with it. (Hear, hear.) We must take it as we have it. The accommodation is very limited, I agree; and there are a great number of ladies there, but they were there as friends of members of the Court. (Hear, hear.) It they pass a self denying ordinance, and not invite ladies there, and observe the Hill as if it were altogether a sacred mount, a real mons sacra, we might have in the future a more orderly and decorous ceremonial. But we will consider his Excellency's suggestions, and see what may be done. There have been rash suggestions that an additional space should be secured, but what we really want is that the Mount should be reserved for those who ought to be upon it. If there were only official persons occupying it, and the line of view kept clear between the tent and the crowd, a great improvement would, in my opinion, be made in the character of the ceremonial. But I do beg his Honour to understand me to say on behalf of the Committee that we have not misunderstood our instructions, and we have not been all along so idle as we were represented. (Hear, hear.)

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: I would just like to say a few words. This Committee sent me report. Of course I didn't know whether it came within the purview of the Committee. A draft report was prepared, and I did not agree to it. I said, " Let the report be signed by those who agree to it, and I will put my objections on it." At present it has stuck there. Again, as to this motion, I see no necessity for it whatever. I quite agree that his Excellency should give orders how things are to be observed. As to the Tynwald Court on the 5th July last, that really was the most disorderly meeting that I remember; but I disagree with the inferences that seem to be drawn that that was the state of things. I dare say that at some meetings there has been too much talking on the Hill, but I don't remember anything like the last 5th July. I am sure I have seen numbers of strangers brought up on the Hill and people talking in a whisper. That causes no interruption, but that was not the case last July. With reference to persons who come over here - distinguished strangers - I think it would be a pity not to allow them to go on the Hill, but I think it ought to be under the control of his Excellency to give permission or refuse it. As for the general public going on, and getting up behind, that is a matter of police regulation and can be prevented very easily. But I trust that it will never be considered here that we will do away with this ancient ceremony. (Hear, hear.) It will be a matter of great distress to me to see anything belonging to this old ceremony done away with. As Professor Waugh says, it is a custom which prevails in Scandinavian countries as well as in the Isle of Man, and I hope it will continue as long as the Isle of Man exists as an independent kingdom. It is said that we should do away with it because it is useless. I believe it is useful even now. The people of the Isle of Man never attend to hear the laws proclaimed, but the fact that the Court assembled caused people to talk about it, and to inquire what laws had been passed. I have no doubt at the present time the same thing occurs, and people who do not pay great attention to Acts when they are before the Legislature, inquire on these occasions what laws were introduced, and I dare say they know more from the fact that the Court met to proclaim the laws than from any discussions in the Legislature. It never was the case that the whole inhabitants of the Island attended there to hear the laws. As this motion in its original form goes, it implies that the Committee have power to make arrangements. They have no such power. If this motion was carried into effect, it would be an instruction to the Committee to consider certain matters which they have nothing to do with. I consider that is totally unnecessary; and I trust, if the motion is not withdrawn, that the Court will vote against it, because I think it is wrong in principle for this Court to sanction any interference with the authority of his Excellency. (Hear, hear.)

Mr MOORE rose to speak.

Mr FARRANT : I will not stand between the Court and my hon. friend, but I wish to ask the Clerk of the Rolls whether, in his observations in regard to this matter, he said that the members of the House of Keys have not an official right to be present.

The CLERK of the ROLLS: What I meant was this-that they ought to be in two lines on the steps of the hill. That is the place for the Keys from time immemorial, and not inside. (No.)

Mr CORMODE : I would like to say a few words in explanation of what took place on Tynwald Hill, having heard what some honourable gentlemen have mentioned. Since I became a member of this Court I have noticed all these people getting into talk and laughing all round on account of reading the Manx laws, and I remember that several ladies and gentlemen came up to me and asked me, "Do you understand what this man says?" (Laughter.) Now, do you know, sir, that I could talk Manx when I was a boy, but I could not understand that. (Renewed laughter.) " No," I said, " I cannot say whether it is Manx, or Greek, or Latin." (Laughter.) And then, I believe there is always a rush to hear the Manx laws proclaimed in the Manx language. The late Parson Drury generally got alongside of me, and he used to say, " Cormode, do you understand what this man means?" " No," I said, " I do not understand it at all." "Neither can I," said he. Then, if neither the parson nor I could understand it how can any person else who never understands the Manx language? I think it would be well if your Excellency would clear that away. I think it is a great loss of time signing the Acts. If your Excellency could see your way, according to the law, to do away with reading the laws in the Manx language, or else get some man to read them better, it would be a very good thing. I cannot understand them as a Manxman. (Laughter.)

Deemster DRINKWATER : I think I ought to give the Court my experience in this matter,because I can go further back, I am sorry to say, than any other member of the Court, as to the nature of the ceremonial in former days, and I can say that this disorder which is complained of has been a gradually increasing evil. In the days of Governor Hope, the persons inside the tent would probably be not more than a dozen in number. No person thought of going into the tent without the implied or expressed consent of the Governor. The tent was kept quite clear. There was no one standing between the Deemster who was reading the laws and the Governor; and certainly no one thought of turning his back on the Governor. There was a certain amount of ceremony observed in those days. In Governor Loch's time it grew a little more disorderly-more talking went on, and more ladies were introduced; but I believe then no person was admitted to the tent without the consent, expressed or implied, of his Excellency. The tent in the days of Governor Hope was very much less in size than now, and I attribute one of the evils to the great increase that has been made in tent, because Nature abhors a vacuum, and when you find a somewhat large tent, people are naturally inclined to think that the first who enters it may see what is going on. I had the pleasure of seeing a not very intelligent-looking English gentleman within a foot of my face with his capon, and almost touching my face as he was trying to understand what I think would be difficult for anyone to understand -that is the marginal notes of the general statutes. (Laughter ) As to seeing his Excellency, I could not do so even if I turned round, because there were about a dozen people between me and his Excellency, and my opinion is that the con-fusion was greater on that occasion than I ever remember it before. His Excellency Governor Loch made a great deal of improvement in the ceremony within the Church. At the first Tynwald I attended the Church was not then furnished and we had the service in the school-room, and the Court sat in the school-room. (Laughter.)

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Was that your first?

Deemster DRINKWATER : Yes.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL; Didn't you assemble in the old chapel?

Deemster DRINKWATER : No, that was the first I saw. The ceremony was improved considerably by Governor Loch, and the service in the church now, with the exception of the organ, which I am no judge about, is as good as I could wish it-everything seemed as nice as it could be -and I have no doubt that can be improved and altered ; but I think myself the tent itself ought to be very much reduced in size. I think that is one of the evils. Everyone is asking for more room to be made, forgetting that, according to the ancient custom of this Island, the tent is not meant for everyone to be in; it is only meant for a few official persons and a few persons whom his Excellency might request to attend. I think the tent ought to be diminished, and that could be taken into consideration with other matters.

Mr STEVENSON was understood to say: Some of the Committee contended that they have done everything, but I do not think that was their province. At the same time, the service in the church has been enormously improved during the last few years. As for what took place outside the church, I think we have nothing at all to do with that. It is your Excellency's department entirely, and you have it in your hands to allow whom you please in the tent. At the same time, I should be sorry to see his Honour Deemster Drinkwater's suggestion to reduce the size of the tent carried out. During the last few years we have had too many people there, but, so far as the House of Keys is concerned, if I had to stand outside the steps, I should soon go away somewhere else very early. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) I think if members of the Court had any sense at all they would not want to see the ceremony. (Laughter.)

The motion being withdrawn, the amendment, placing the matter in the hands of his Excellency, was unanimously assented to.