A Commission of Inquiry on Royalty. (1876.)
The inquiry examines the British monarchy's finances and governance, focusing on issues of extravagance, corruption, and mismanagement. It investigates allegations of embezzlement, nepotism, and abuse of power within the royal household. The report reveals significant discrepancies in the royal family's financial dealings and highlights concerns about the monarch's role in government.
By James Stamers · First published 1876 · Genre: Satire, Political Commentary, Social Critique · 3,958 words
First lines
The subjects for our solemn consideration are the seclusion of her Most Gracious Majesty, and the complaints thereanent published in several respectable journals. In order to investigate the matter thoroughly, we constituted ourselves (the unknown number x) into a special Commission of Inquiry. We are happy to state that the said Commission has concluded its arduous labors, and now presents its report within a week of its appointment; surely the most prompt and rapid of commissions. The cause of this celerity we take to be the fact that the Commissioners were unsalaried; we being unanimously of opinion that had we received good pay for the inquiry throughout the period of our session, we could have prolonged it with certain benefit, if not to the public yet to ourselves, for a great number of years. If, therefore, you want a Commission to do its work rapidly vote no money for it. And do not fear that the most headlong haste in gathering evidence and composing the report will diminish the value of such report; for when a Commission has lasted for years or months it generally rises in a quite different state of the subject matter from that in which it first sat, and the report must be partly obsolete, partly a jumble of anachronisms. In brief, it may be fairly affirmed as a general rule that no Commission of Inquiry is of any value at all; the appointment of one being merely a dodge by which people who don't want to act on what they and everybody else see quite well with their naked eyes, set a number of elderly gentlemen to pore upon it with spectacles and magnifying glasses until dazed and stupid with poring, in the hope that this process will last so long that ere it is finished the public will have forgotten the matter altogether. And now for the result of our inquiries on this subject, which is not only immensely important, but is even sacred to our loyal hearts.
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A Commission of Inquiry on Royalty. (1876.) is listed on Textopian as an article by James Stamers, dated 1876 CE.
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- Work type: Article
- Author: James Stamers
- Date: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Political Commentary, Social Critique, Historical, Essay
- Length: 3,958 words
- Structure: 1 section, 23 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
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Genres
- Satire — The text employs humor, irony, and exaggeration to critique the inefficacy and absurdity of royal commissions and the monarchy.
- Political Commentary — The work discusses political issues related to the monarchy, government spending, and the role of royalty in society.
- Social Critique — The narrative critiques societal norms and the public's perception of royalty, highlighting class disparities and societal expectations.
- Historical — The text references historical figures and events, providing context to the political and social climate of the time.
Tags
Historical Nonfiction · Monarchy · Inquiry Report · 19th Century · British History · Royalty · Government Investigation · Public Inquiry · Social Commentary · Politics · Society · Economy