CHAPTER XVI.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Opening of 1843--Assassination of Drummond--The _Quarterly_ on

the League--Scene between Peel and Cobden--Mr. Villiers's Annual

Motion--Peel's Free Trade Admissions--Progress of the League

Agitation--Activity of its Press--Important Accessions--Invasion of

the County Constituencies--The Free Traders in Parliament--Disraeli

attacks Peel--Lord John Russell's Attitude--Debate on Mr.

Villiers's Motion--Mr. Goulburn's Budget--The Sugar Duties--Defeat

of the Government--Peel obtains a Reconsideration of the

Vote--Disraeli's Sarcasms--The Anti-League League--Supposed Decline

of Cobdenism--The Session of 1845--The Budget--Breach between Peel

and his Party--The Potato Disease--The Cabinet Council--Memorandum

of November 6--Dissent of Peel's Colleagues--Peel's Explanation

of his Motives--Lord Stanley's Expostulation--Announcement in the

_Times_--The Edinburgh Letter--Resignation of the Ministry--Russell

fails to form a Government--Return of Peel--Parliament

meets--Debates on the Queens Speech--Peel's general Statement--Mr.

Bright's Eulogium--The Corn Bill passes the Commons and the

Lords--Defeat of Sir Robert Peel--Some scattered Facts of his

Administration 505

Cassell's History of England, Vol. 5 (of 8) From the Peninsular War to the Death of Sir Robert Peel · 第 16 / 42 章