ountry, and
deeply impressed with the necessity of opposing all the Radical
measures and propositions, which he considers parts of a great
system, and a comprehensive scheme of a revolutionary character.
Then he is disgusted and mortified at the treatment he has
personally experienced both in and out of the House of Commons,
and at the clamour and abuse of which he has been the object on
account of the firm determination he has evinced to go no
further; and this clamour has not been confined to the regular
avowed Radicals or the organs of their opinions, but there are
old self-styled Whigs--his uncle, Lord William, for example--and
others, who are groaning over his obstinacy as they deem it, and
attributing to it the ruin of their party; all this superadded to
his broken spirits[9] makes him heartily sick of his position;
and, seeing the unpopularity and weakness of the Government,
denuded of all sympathy and support, and left to be buffeted by
the Tories on one side and the Radicals on the other, he is
aware, and not sorry to be aware, that the last act is at hand.
Of this approaching catastrophe probably all the others are as
well aware as himself, but there are some among them who
earnestly desire that it should be so brought about as to make it
next to impossible for those who may succeed them to carry on the
Government. This, however, is not the object of Lord John
Russell, who, on the contrary, desires that the next Government
may be so formed and so conducted as to enable him to support it,
and to bring with him such strength in its aid as may place it
beyond the reach of danger. Whether they get a majority or not on
the 15th, he knows that they cannot go on much longer. The Queen
will do whatever Melbourne advises her, and he will advise her to
send for the Duke of Wellington, who, in his turn, will desire
her to send for Peel. Whether or no any attempt would be made
towards a coalition, or a wide comprehension, on the formation of
the Government, nothing would induce Lord John to take office,
but he would be desirous of supporting Peel's Government, if he
could with honour, and if the circumstances attending the change
should render it possible for him as well as for others disposed
to follow his course, to do so. He thinks that it is of great
consequence that there should be no dissolution, which would
throw the country into a ferment, lead to violent manifestations
and declarations, and to many people being