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Peng fairly drop out of their hands. The Queen seems to it
be more violently opposed than ever to the Tories.” Zr. 87.
The Queen had no choice. An amendment was moved
pon the address in both Houses, and carried in the Commons
by the irresistible majority of ninety-one. The vote was
taken gt five in the morning (August 28), and in the afteroon
 of the same day, Lord Melbourne went down to
Windsor to resign his post. Within a few days that great
ministration was formed which contained not only able
Tories like Lord Lyndhurst, but able seceders from the
Whigs like Lord Stanley and Sir James Graham ; which
“ommanded an immense majority in both Houses; which
a8 led by a chief of consummate sagacity ; and which was
8 last, five years afterwards, slowly broken to pieces by
bhe work of Cobden and the League.
Cobden made his maiden speech in the debate which
Preceded this great official revolution. “I was induced,”
he Writes to his brother, “to speak last night at
“bout nine o’clock. We thought the debate would have
been brought to a close. The Tories were doggedly re-“olved
 from the first not to enter upon any discussion of
the main question, and the discussion, if it could be
calle one, went on as flab as possible. My speech had
°18 good effect. I called up a booby who let fly at the
Manufacturers, very much to the chagrin, I suspect, of the
leader of his party. It is now thought that the Tories
St come ont and discuss in self-defence the Free Trade
dnestion, ang if not, they will be damaged by the argn-Tents
 on the other side. All my friends say I did well.
But 1 feel it very necessary to be cautious in speaking too
Much, I gha)l be an observer for some time.” *
We now see that Cobden’s maiden speech was much more
than 4 Success in the ordinary sense of attracting the atten-'
 Top, Cobden, August 24, 1841. 4 To F. Oobden, August 26, 1841.