force. The West Indian interest, which, though much reduced in wealth,
still subsisted as a parliamentary entity, was keenly arrayed on the
same side. There were some votes attracted by dislike, perhaps, to the
argument on our side, which appeared to be complex and over-refined. A
meeting of the party was held in order to confront the crisis. Sir
Robert Peel stated his case in a speech which was thought to be haughty
and unconciliatory. I do not recollect whether there was hostile
discussion, or whether silence and the sulks prevailed. But I remember
that when the meeting of the party broke up, Sir Robert Peel said on
quitting the room that it was the worst meeting he had ever attended. It
left disagreeable anticipations as to the division which was in
immediate prospect.... The opposition in general had done what they
could to strengthen their momentary association with the West Indian
conservatives. Their hopes of a majority depended entirely upon
conservative votes. Of course, therefore, it was vital to confine the
attack to the merits of the question immediately before the House, as an
attack upon the policy of the government generally could only strengthen
it by awakening the susceptibilities of party and so reclaiming the
stray voters to the administration. Lord Howick, entering into the
debate as the hours of enhanced interest began, made a speech which
attacked the conservative policy at large, and gave the opening for an
effective reply. Lord Stanley perceived his opportunity and turned it to
account with great force and adroitness. In a strictly retaliatory
speech, he wound up conservative sentiment on behalf of ministers, and
restored the tone of the House. The clouds of the earlier evening hours
dispersed, and the government was victorious. Two speeches, one
negatively and the other positively, reversed the prevailing current,
and saved the administration. I have never known a parallel case. The
whole honour of the fray, in the ministerial sense, redounded to Lord
Stanley. I doubt whether in the twenty-six years of his after life he
ever struck such a stroke as this.

COLONIAL POLICY

_Page 362_

You have reversed, within the last seventy years, every one of these
salutary principles. Your policy has been this; you have retained at
home the management of and property in colonial lands. You have
magnificent sums figuring in your estimates for