£11,

SPEEOH ON LORD HOWIOK'S MOTION. 257

ho act wag simply that of a lunatic. But it shook Sir 1848,
Robert, Peol’s nerves. He was known by those who were Zr. 39.
Whmate with him to have a morbid sensibility to whatever
was Physically painfal or horrible. It has always been
“lieved that his distress at the circumstances of Mr.
Drammongrg death was the secret of the scene with Cobden
Which we have now to describe.
Lord Howick on an early night in the session moved that
the House should resolve itself into a committee to consider
% Passage in the Queen’s speech, in which reference had been
ade to the prevailing distress. The debate on the motion
va 8 a great affair, and extended over five nights. It was a
Yisonsgion worthy of the fame of the House of Commons—a
%erious effort on the part of most of those who contributed
% it, to shed some light on the difficulties in which the
®untry was involved. Cobden spoke on the last night of the
debate (Feb. 17). He answered in his usual dexterous and
"Qumentative way the statements of Lord Stanley, Mr.
Hadstone, and other opponents of a repeal of the Corn Law,
"2d then he proceeded to a fervent remonstrance with the
Pring Minister. I quote some of the sentences which led
% what followed: «If you (Sir Robert Peel) try any other
*Medy than ours, what chance have you for mitigating the
“ndition of the country? You took the Corn Laws into
Your own hands after a fashion of your own, and amended
thery according to your own views. You said that you were
influenced in what you did by any pressure from without
°% your judgment. You acted on your own judgment, and
"ould follow no other, and you are responsible for the con-“quences
 of your act. You said that your object was to
fing more employment for the increasing population. Who
0 likely, however, to tell you what markets could be exfended,
 a8 those who are engaged in carrying oun the trade
4 manufactures of the country ? . . - You passed the law,