ONSERVATIVE _party_ of which he is now the acknowledged head. In
1841, just _before_ the general election, he thus _reminded that
party_, and apprized the country at large of the principle on which he
had acted in 1832. We beg our readers to ponder his words, and the
period when he uttered them.

"I then foresaw the good that might result from laying the
foundation of a great Conservative party in the state,
attached to the fundamental institutions of the country--not
opposed to any rational change in it which the lapse of years,
or the altered circumstances of society might require, but
determined to maintain, on their ancient footing and
foundation, our great institutions in church and state. In
order to form that party, however, it was necessary, in the
first instance, to widen the foundation on which it should
stand: to call into our connexion men from whom we had been
separated in consequence of differences which no longer
existed. My grand object was to build up that great party
which has been gradually acquiring strength in this
country--which has been gradually widening the foundation on
which it stands, and which has drawn, from time to time, its
support from its opponents."[11]

[11] Speech to the Tamworth Electors on 28th June 1841,
(Painter, Strand.)

The shortest and best evidence of the success which has attended the
unwearied exertions of Sir Robert Peel during the ensuing then years,
is afforded by the following summary of the results of the four
general elections since the passing of the Reform Bill; three of them
under the auspices and with the unscrupulously exercised patronage of
the Reform Government. Observe the ascending and descending scales:--

C. L.
187 471 (1832)
275 383 (1835)
314 344 (1837)
373 283 (1841)

Who was it but its founder, that led the Conservative party through
these successive stages of triumph? Who did so much as he to effect
that gradual but decisive change in public opinion which, in 1841,
routed the Liberal Ministry in spite of their extraordinary exertions
and advantages, and placed a Conservative Government at the head of
affairs? To enable us to appreciate the importance of that great
victory, and also the decision of character evinced on that occasion
by Sir Robert Peel, let us for a moment advert to the calm
self-reliance with wh