kable success, and have closed it apparently
stronger, and with more of public confidence and approbation by
many degrees than they enjoyed at the opening. And I believe this
to be the truth, notwithstanding the fact that almost all the
elections occurring during the Session (in which there have been
contests) have been carried by the Tories.

August 18th, 1840 (continued at the Grove) {p.292}

This improved condition of the Ministry is attributable partly to
the success of their measures and the efficient manner in which
the most important offices have been filled, and partly to the
dissensions which prevailed among their adversaries, some
striking symptoms of which were exhibited to the public. At the
end of the Session, Sir Robert Inglis said to one of the
Government people: 'Well, you have managed to get through the
Session very successfully.' 'Yes,' said the other, 'thanks to
your dissensions among yourselves.' 'No,' said Sir Robert, 'it is
not that, but it is the conduct of your leader, his honesty,
courage, and ability, which has enabled you to do so.' Ley, the
Clerk of the House of Commons, and a man of great experience,
said he had never seen the business so well conducted as by John
Russell. Besides this, his reputation in his office is immense,
where all his subordinates admit that Colonial affairs never were
so well administered. But there can be no doubt that the ill-
humour, which on several occasions broke out, sometimes between
the leaders and sometimes among the masses of the party--'The
Tory Democracy,' as the 'Standard' calls them--was of essential
service to the Government. This first began at the end of last
year upon the Privilege question, which Peel took up vehemently,
and at once identified himself with John Russell in support of
the privileges of the House of Commons. The moment Parliament
opened, this matter came under discussion, and for some time
exclusively occupied the attention of the House of Commons. There
could be no doubt that if Peel had changed his mind and taken the
adverse side, he would have thrown the Government into great
difficulty and embarrassment, but instead of doing so he took the
Privilege side still more warmly than before, threw himself into
the van of the contest, and was the most strenuous and the ablest
advocate in the cause. Nothing could exceed the disappointment
and annoyance of the great body of the Tories at his conduct.
Many of them opposed him, and thou