Less harmonious were the proceedings of the following week in the other House, when Lord John Russell moved for a grant of £50,000 a year to the Queen's consort, to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. Colonel Sibthorpe, a Tory member, well-known for his eccentricity, moved an amendment to substitute £30,000, which was supported by Sir Robert Peel and the Opposition. Lord John resisted it with great warmth, declaring that "no Sovereign of this country had been insulted in such a manner as her present Majesty had been"; but the Government were badly defeated by a combination of Tories and Radicals, and Colonel Sibthorpe's amendment was carried by a majority of 104. [Illustration: _W. Drummond._} {_From an Engraving in the British Museum._ HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IN HER BRIDAL DRESS.] [Sidenote: A famous duel.] The fact is that people who have grown up familiar only with the present relations of the Royal family with the public can hardly realise how prevalently censorious opinions were held regarding the Queen, and how much prejudice Prince Albert had to live down. On the 17th of the very month in which these debates took place, a duel was fought between Mr. Horsman, Whig member for Cockermouth, and Mr. Bradshaw, who had used discourteous and disloyal language about the Queen in a speech made at Canterbury. Horsman had said that Bradshaw had the tongue of a traitor and the heart of a coward. After an exchange of shots, the seconds induced Bradshaw to retract and apologise. It may be mentioned here that the abolition of duelling was one of the first objects to which Prince Albert devoted his efforts after his naturalisation. He proposed the substitution of Courts of Honour to arbitrate in quarrels between gentlemen, and though he did not prevail on the Commander-in-Chief to establish these, there can be no doubt that the Prince's personal influence was greatly the cause of suppressing a system which was in full force during the early years of the reign. [Illustration: _Sir G. Hayter, R.A._} {_From the Royal Collection_ (_by permission of Messrs. Graves, Publishers of the Engraving_). A. Prince George of Cambridge. B. Duchess of Cambridge. C. Princess Mary. D. Prince Ernest. E. Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. F. Queen Adelaide. G. Prince Albert. H. The Queen. J. Duke of Sussex. K. Archbishop of Canterbury. L. Duchess of Kent. M. Princess Augusta of Cambridge. N. Duke of Cambridge. P. Princess Sophia Matilda. THE MARRIAGE OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE ALBERT AT THE CHAPEL ROYAL, ST. JAMES'S, February 10, 1840.] [Sidenote: The Queen fired at.]