r his long
series of victories, announced that he had abandoned his Bill for
this year. It was an extremely embarrassing question to
Government, and one upon which they could not appear in a
favourable point of view. On one hand they were compelled to aid
and abet their Irish allies in their opposition to this Bill, so
fatal as it would have been to their influence in all the
vexatious and unfair modes which they adopted; and on the other
hand it showed how little this self-called Reform Ministry cared
for any measure of Reform, or rather how heartily they were
opposed to any of which the tendency would be injurious to their
own political influence. There never was a simpler question of
Reform than this, a clearer case of wrong, or one which more
loudly demanded a remedy; but the wrong was one by which they
largely benefited, and the correction of it would have the effect
of augmenting the power of their opponents. Accordingly, by every
species of sophistry, by falsehoods of all kinds, by vehement
denunciations and endeavours to arouse the passions of the Irish
people, they moved Heaven and earth to thwart and defeat the
measure. There was, however, only one moment at which the
Government were in any jeopardy, for they very early resolved not
to let the majorities against them shake them out of their seats.
But when Stanley, complaining of the unfair means which had been
employed to prevent his bringing on his measure in its different
stages, announced that he would invade the days reserved for
Government business, Lord John Russell began darkly to hint at
the impossibility of the Government conducting the public
business if the House sanctioned such an encroachment, and much
irritation was exhibited for a short time. Both parties, however,
got calm, and a compromise was the result. The Government offered
Stanley certain days, which he immediately accepted,
acknowledging that nothing but an extreme provocation would
justify the course he had threatened to adopt, and so the storm
blew over; and this question was nearly the only one which
produced any violent debates and close divisions. Besides the
usual light skirmishing and the taunts, accusations, and
reproaches, here and there thrown out against the Government,
there were no serious attacks upon their policy and measures,
either domestic or foreign; and upon the whole, setting apart the
smallest of their dependable majority, they got through the
Session with remar