ager to learn something of the causes which had
separated men who had acted so long together in good and in evil report,
and which had accomplished an union between parties and individuals
whose contest had generally been a war to the death. The public had not
to remain long on the tiptoe of expectation, for no sooner had the house
met than the strife of words commenced.

EXPLANATIONS OF MEMBERS, AND HOSTILITY TO THE MINISTRY.

On the motion that a new writ should issue for the borough of Ashburton,
for the election of a member in place of Mr. S. Bourne, Mr. Peel said,
that as the motion was connected with the succession to that office
which he had resigned, he trusted that the house would allow him the
opportunity of explaining the grounds on which he had retired from
the situation of secretary of state, disclaiming at the same time all
intention of opposing the new government, and carrying himself free from
every appearance of a factious spirit. He remarked:--"I retired from
office because, from the first moment of my public life, I have taken
an active and decided part on a great and vital question, that of the
extension of political privileges to the Roman Catholics. For eighteen
years I have constantly offered an uncompromising, but, I hope, a
temperate, fair, and constitutional resistance to every proposition for
granting to them any further concessions. My opposition is founded
on principle. I think the continuance of those bars which prevent
the acquisition of political power by the Catholics necessary for
the maintenance of the constitution, and for the interests of the
established church. It is not merely that my honourable friend differs
in opinion from me on this important question, but the change in
administration occasions the transfer of all that influence and power
which belongs to the office of a prime minister into the hands of one
who will use it for the purpose of forwarding an object which I have
always resisted. It is not a transfer of that influence and power
from one ordinary man to another ordinary man, but from the most able
opponent of the Catholic claims to their most zealous and eloquent
advocate." Mr. Peel then vindicated the course taken by his late
colleagues in resigning office; the act, he said, was "a splendid
example of disinterested conduct to all public men." He vindicated
them from the charge of acting in concert, or in the spirit of cabal;
declaring that he not only did not