388

Lik OF QOBDEN,

[CHAP

1848. white merely to serve a particular purpose. But though be
Fr. 42. was bound to vote against the Coercion Bill, he rejoiced ®
think that Sir Robert Peel would carry with him the ested”
and gratitude of a greater number of the population of thi®
empire than had ever followed the retirement of any Ot’
Minister.
This closed the debate. The Government were beaten by
the heavy majority of seventy-three. The failen Ministe’
announced his resignation of office to the House three day®
later (June 29) in a remarkable speech. As Mr. Disrael
thinks, it was considered one of glorification and of pique
But the candour of posterity will insist on recognizing in every
period of it the exaltation of a patriotic and justifiable pride:
In this speech Sir Robert Peel pronounced that eulogi™®
which is well worn, it is true, but which cannot be omitted
here. “In reference to our proposing these measures,” 2°
said, “I have no wish to rob any person of the credit whic?
is justly due to him for them. But I may say that neithe’
the gentlemen sitting on the benches opposite, nor mysel)
nor the gentlemen sitting round me—I say that peithe”
of us are the parties who are strictly entitled to the
merit. There has been a combination of parties, and that
combination of parties together with the influence of tbe
Government, has led to the ultimate success of the measure
But, Sir, there is a name which ought to be associated with
the success of these measures: it is not the name of 1
noble Lord, the member for London, neither is it my na®®
Sir, the name which ought to be, and which will be associated
with the success of these measures is the name of a man whos
acting, I believe, from pure and disinterested motives, hod
advocated their cause with untiring energy, and by appeals w
reason, expressed by an eloquence, the more to be admired
because it was unaffected and unadorned—the name whic?
sught to be and will be associated with the success of the