solved to make none whatever,
and that he would not sacrifice his conscientious convictions for
any political or party purpose.

[Page Head: LORD BROUGHAM ATTACKS MINISTERS.]

After this, up got Brougham, and that boiling torrent of rage,
disdain, and hatred, which had been dammed up upon a former
occasion when he was so unaccountably muzzled, broke forth with
resistless and overwhelming force. He spoke for three hours, and
delivered such an oration as no other man in existence is capable
of: devilish in spirit and design, but of superhuman eloquence
and masterly in execution. He assailed the Ministers with a storm
of invective and ridicule; and, while he enveloped his periods in
a studied phraseology of pretended loyalty and devotion, he
attacked the Queen herself with unsparing severity. He went at
length and in minute detail into the whole history of the recent
transaction, drew it in its true colours, and exposed its origin,
progress, and motives, and thus he laid bare all the arts and
falsehoods by which attempts had been made to delude and agitate
the country. If it were possible to treat this as a party
question, his speech would be a powerful party auxiliary, most
valuable to the Tories as a vindication of them, for it was the
peculiar merit of this speech that it abounded in truths and in
great constitutional principles of undoubted authority and
unerring application. The Duke of Wellington rose after Brougham:
in a short speech, replete with moderation and dignity, he
abstained from entering upon the past, but fastened upon
Melbourne's declaration, and gave him to understand that as long
as he adhered to such principles as he had then declared he would
be governed by, he might appeal to Parliament confidently for
support.

These three speeches have all in their different ways produced a
great effect: Melbourne's will not satisfy the Radicals, though
they catch (as dying men at straws) at a vague expression about
'progressive reforms,' and try (or pretend) to think that this
promises something, though they know not what. Brougham's speech
was received by the Tory Lords with enthusiastic applause,
vociferous cheering throughout, and two or three rounds at the
conclusion. But the Duke's assurance of support to Melbourne
exasperated his own people to the greatest degree, produced a
sulky article in the 'Times,' and the usual complaints at White's
and the Carlton of the Duke's being in his dotage, and so fort