THE CAMBRIDGE REVIEW

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

27 February 1896

(page 236)

THE UNION SOCIETY.

Tuesday, February 25, 1896.

Mr. A. F. Butler, Pembroke College, moved "That the maintenance of the Poet Laureateship is a dangerous absurdity."

The honourable opener having replied, the House divided; Ayes, 16; Noes, 41. Majority against the motion, 25.

On the 25th, the House met to discuss Mr. Butler's motion, "That the maintenance of the Poet Laureateship is a dangerous absurdity." The attendance was small, but the discussion, though often trivial, could not be called dull, being relieved by intentional and unintentional humour throughout

[ . . . ]

Mr. Hillyard insisted that the Poet Laureateship could not be dangerous if it was the trivial institution the supporters of the motion declared it to be.

Mr. Crowley followed Mr. Hillyard in support of the motion. His delivery was flippant and familiar, and his remarks could be of no interest to the public, except, perhaps, that he has read "all the plays of Beaumont and Fletcher, and Wordsworth's 'We are Seven.' ".

There also spoke against the motion Mr. Davey and Mr. Blume.