UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA THE ANNUAL REGISTER, FOR THE YEAR 1846. HISTORY OF EUROPE. CHAPTER I. - Closing Events of the Year 1845-Sudden Dissolution of Sir R. Peel's respondence which had taken place-Mr. Disraeli follows with some severe animadversions on Sir Robert Peel's conduct- Mr. Miles and Colonel Sibthorp follow on the same side-The Address is carried without a Division - On the 26th the Duke of Wellington states in the House of Lords the Reasons which had induced the Government to resign, and afterwards to return to Office-Remarks of the Duke of Buckingham, who declares his Opposition to the Ministerial Policy -Speech of the Marquis of Lansdowne, explaining his Abandonment of the Principle of a Fixed Duty-Further statement of recent Transactions by the Duke of Wellington-Observations of Lord Radnor, the Duke of Richmond, Lord Beaumont, the Earl of Aberdeen, and other Peers on the same subject. THER HE close of the year 1845 was signalized by political events of the most unexpected and startling character. During a period of the most complete repose in the political world, while the Peel Ministry was to outward appearance in the very noontide of its prosperous career, holding a position fortified at once by the favour of the Crown and large majorities in both Houses of Parliament, suddenly and without a blow that strong Government was dissolved, and the foundation on which it had rested irretrievably destroyed. The news that Sir R. Peel and his colleagues had abdicated their power excited, both among the adherents and opponents of their policy, the most lively emotions of surprise and curiosity, while it forcibly brought home to all minds the insecurity and changefulness of political combinations. The event to which such important consequences were attributed, grave and serious as it has since proved to be, was at that time by no means appreciated as adequate in importance to the effects it had produced. The appearance of an extensive disease in the potato crops in various parts of the United Kingdom, though regarded as a serious calamity to the poorer classes, especially in Ireland, was scarcely deemed a satisfactory solution for the wreck of one of the most powerful Cabinets of modern times. Yet it soon transpired that it was in this apparently insignificant cause that Sir R. Peel had found the necessity of his retirement from office. In the face of the alarming prospect presented to his mind by the destruction of a large portion of the staple food of the labouring population, his resolution to maintain the existing Corn Laws gave way, and his secession from power was the consequence. In the latter part of November Cabinet Councils had been held very frequently, and it had transpired that the subject of their numerous deliberations was connected with the great question of the restrictions on food. The leading transactions of this period will be found recorded in the account afterwards given by Sir R. Peel in his place in Parliament ; it will be sufficient to say here, by way of introduction, that after much discussion and much difference of opinion in the Cabinet, the conclusion was adopted by the Prime Minister and his colleagues to tender their resignations to the Queen. They were accepted accordingly, and the same channels of intelligence which announced the retirement of the Conservative Government conveyed also the fact that Lord John Russell had been sent for, and had received Her Majesty's commands to form a Government. The commission was promptly undertaken by that nobleman, but it was not long before it was understood that serious difficulties impeded the new arrangements. Dissensions and jealousies were supposed to exist among the aspirants to the vacant offices, and considerable doubt prevailed among many judicious members of the Whig body, whether it consisted with the true policy of their party to undertake at the existing juncture so hazardous an enterprise as the formation of a Government committed to an alteration in the Corn Laws in the face of a very powerful opposition, both in Parliament and in the country. After considerable delay and much fruitless negotiation the attempt was found impracticable, and Lord John Russell announced his failure to the Queen. The only alternative which the circumstances of the country now rendered possible was the resumption of office by Sir R. Peel; but in the altered character which his recent convictions had obliged him to assume, as the instrument of a fundamental change in that policy of which he had so long been the foremost champion and supporter. A task more repugnant to the feelings of any statesman possessing the least share of sensitive feeling can hardly be conceived than that which the restored Premier was about to undertake. Obloquy and misrepresentationthe alienation of friends, the reproaches of former supporters, the sneers and taunts of his opponents, the sacrifice of consistency, the retractation of oft repeated and recorded convictions, the abdication of a position which had been achieved with so much industry and maintained with such distinguished fortune-these were the terms upon which Sir R. Peel prepared to resume the coveted but unenviable functions of First Minister of the Crown. To this must be added, that while the burdens and vexations of office were so great, the temptations which it offered were little calculated to seduce the most covetous or ambitious aspirant for power. It was resumed notoriously and avowedly for a single purposethe accomplishment of a single measure this done, the disruption of his party would render his removal from office inevitable, and that, too, with a very distant, if any, prospect of return. But whatever may be thought of the conduct pursued by Sir R. Peel with reference to the Corn Law question, during the many years in which he took so active a part in upholding a system which, with his own hand, he now came forward to destroy, and whatever impeachment may be made upon his sagacity and foresight as a states man, or his consistency as a party leader, it would seem difficult for any one, not blinded by party spirit or exasperated by resentment beyond the bounds of reason, to impugn the honesty of the motives by which he was actuated in adopting the course now described. That course involved the sacrifice of every object and every feeling most dear to a political leader; it was equally fatal to the reputation of the past and the prospects of the future, and it exposed him to a storm of obloquy and reproach, under which nothing could have supported him but a consciousness of having acted with a single aim for the public welfare. Where a statesman has everything to lose and nothing to gain by a change of policy, it seems to require even more than the usual perversity of faction to discredit the sincerity of his motives. It is true that sincerity is no apology for error in judgment, and being convicted of the latter by his own confession, Sir R. Peel could not expect to escape the penalty which is attached to it; but it is due to justice that the blot of inconsistency should not be magnified beyond its true proportions, and that the distinction should be maintained between a candid avowal of error and a corrupt dereliction of principle. With a single exception the entire Cabinet of Sir R. Peel gave countenance to his change of policy by resuming office under him. Lord Stanley alone retired from the office of Secretary for the Colonies, in which he was succeeded by Mr. W. E. Gladstone, who not long before had vacated another office under circumstances narrated in the preceding volume. It is needless to say, that unusual interest and excitement attended the opening of the session under the recent circumstances. It took place on the 19th of January, when Her Majesty in person delivered the following Speech from the Throne : 66 My Lords and Gentlemen, "It gives me great satisfaction again to meet you in Parliament, and to have the opportunity of recurring to your assistance and advice. "I continue to receive from my Allies, and from other Foreign Powers, the strongest assurances 66 For several years a desolating and sanguinary warfare has afflicted the States of the Rio de la Plata. The commerce of all nations has been interrupted, and acts of barbarity have been committed, unknown to the practice of a civilized people. In conjunction with the King of the French, I am endeavouring to effect the pacification of those States. "The Convention concluded with France, in the course of last year, for the more effectual suppression of the Slave Trade, is about to be carried into immediate execution by the active co-operation of the Two Powers on the coast of Africa. It is my desire that our present union, and the good understanding which so happily exists between us, may always be employed to promote the interests of humanity and to secure the peace of the world. "I regret that the conflicting claims of Great Britain and the United States in respect of the territory on the north-western coast of America, although they have been made the subject of repeated negotiation, still remain unsettled. You may be assured that no effort consistent with national honour shall be wanting on my part to bring this question to an early and peaceful termination. |