RIL)
SCENE WITH $i8 ROBERT PERL. 259
6 holds me individually—" Here the speaker was inberfupted
by the intense excitement which his emphasis on the Zr. 39
Word, and the growing passion of his manner, had rapidly
Produced among his audience. Individually responsible,”
be resumed, © for the distress and suffering of the country;
that he holds me personally responsible. But be the consequences
of these insinuations What they may, never will I be
fluenced by menaces, either in this House or out of this
House, to adopt a course which I consider—”’ The rest of
the sentence was lost in the shouts which now rose from all
Parts of the House. Cobden at once got up, but to little
Purpose, “I did not say,” he began, «that I hold the
¥ight hon. gentleman personally responsible.” Vehement
tries arose on every side; Yes, yes ’—“ You did, you
did #—t¢ Opder —* Chair.” «You did,” called out Sir
Robert Pool, Cobden went on, “I have said that T hold the
tight hon, gentleman respongible by virtue of his office, as
the whole context of what I said was sufficient to explain.”
The enraged denials and the confusion with which the
Ministerial benches broke into his explanation, showed
Cobden that it was hopeless for the moment to attempt to
clear himself, ' Sir Robert Peel resumed by reiterating the
tharge that Cobden had twice declared that he would hold
the Minister individually responsible. This inauspicious
beginning was the prelude of a strong and carefnl speech ;
8 strong a speech as could be made by a minister who was
ot prepared to launch into the full tide of Cobden’s own
policy * and had only doubtful arguments about practical
1843.
* The peroration of this speech is an admirably eloquent comparison
between the pacific views of Wellington and Soult —¢ men who have seen
se Morning sun rise upon living masses of fiery warrjorg, so many of whom
Were 10 be laid in the grave before that sun should set ”’-——and “ anonymons
14 irresponsible writers in the public journals, who are doing all they 633
fo eXasperate the differences that have prevailed ; and whose efforts werk
Rot direated by geal for the national honour, bub employed for the base
