which Dr Lushington's speech[30] had
produced.

Lancashire, Cheshire, and the West Riding of Yorkshire have been
roused to strong excitement by the prospect of a reduction of the
duty on corn. Several of the large towns have expressed their opinions
without distinction of party.

These symptoms are said to have created some dissensions among the
opponents of your Majesty's present Government.

Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, and nearly all the eminent leaders
of the party, profess their adherence to the principles of Mr
Huskisson.[31] On the other hand, the Duke of Buckingham,[32] with
many Lords and Commoners, is opposed to any relaxation of the
present Corn Laws. This difference must ultimately produce serious
consequences, and it is possible they may break out before the present
debate is ended.

One consequence of the propositions of the Ministry is the
weakening of the power of the Chartists, who have relied on the
misrepresentation that neither Whigs nor Tories would ever do anything
for the improvement of the condition of the working classes.

All these circumstances have a bearing on the question of a
dissolution of Parliament, and are to be weighed against the risks and
inconveniences of so bold a measure.

[Footnote 29: On Lord Sandon's resolution.]

[Footnote 30: Against the Budget, on the ground that it tended
to encourage slavery.]

[Footnote 31: Which were opposed to Protection and the
Navigation Laws.]

[Footnote 32: Richard Plantagenet (1797-1861), second Duke of
the 1822 creation, M.P. for Bucks 1818-1839, and author of
the "Chandos clause," became Lord Privy Seal this year, but
resigned shortly after. He dissipated his property, and had to
sell the contents of Stowe.]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S JOURNAL]

_Extract from the Queen's Journal._

_Monday, 17th May 1841._

"Lord Melbourne came to me at twenty minutes to three. There were no
_new_ news. He gave me a letter from the Duke of Roxburgh,[33] saying
he could not support Government on the Corn Laws, and writing an
unnecessarily cold letter. Lord Melbourne fears this would lose
Roxburgh in case of an election. A great many of the friends of the
Government, however, are against any alteration in the Corn Laws.
Talked of the excellent accounts from the country with which the
papers are full, and I said I couldn't help thinking the Government
would gain by a dissolution, and the feeling in