XXVI. AT HOME AND ABROAD 27 



proposed the alteration which was now brought 

 forward by the right hon. gentleman." ^ 



In reply Sir John asserted that this, if a reason 

 at all, would point the other way, and said that 

 he should bring the question up in Committee. 

 When it did come up in Committee Sir William 

 Harcourt found that the country members on his 

 own side were not with him, and gave way, so 

 that the amendment was carried. 



Time, which habituates eels to physical and 

 humanity to financial skinning, has led us to 

 regard almost any form and degree of taxation 

 with the equanimity with which we face the 

 inevitable ; but at that date nerves were more 

 sensitive. Sir John received many encomiums 

 for his opposition : 



" You have taken, and, I hope, will continue 

 to take, an active part in resisting Harcourt' s 

 iniquitous scheme of graduated death duties ..." 

 writes one. 



" Allow me to congratulate you," says another, 

 " on the announcement of the Chancellor of the 

 Exchequer that he withdraws the 8th clause of 

 his Budget bill. The Mercantile community owe 

 you their thanks for the active part you have 

 taken in the matter, and not less should the 

 Government thank you for saving them from a 

 terrible blunder." 



Finally, he made an attack on the general 

 provisions of the Budget Bill in an article in the 

 New Review. 



In August he was at Oxford for the British 

 Association meeting. During Lord Salisbury's 



• Times, April 24, 1894. 



