hold any communication with the
lord-chancellor, as had been said, but that he did not even know hip
lordship's intentions The very first person, he said, to whom I stated
my inability to acquiesce in the appointment of my right honourable
friend as prime minister, was my right honourable friend himself; and
I did not then known the intention of any other member of the
administration. He added:--"A separation from my right honourable
friend, with whom I have acted so cordially on every point but one, is
to me a source of deep regret, mitigated, however, in some degree by
the recollection that I have done everything becoming my character
to prevent it. I retire from the service of my sovereign without any
personal regret, except upon one point, namely, that I can no longer
avail myself of those opportunities which office afforded of introducing
a system of improvement into the existing laws. To effect that object is
the chief desire of my life; and I have the satisfaction of reflecting
that, during the five years I have held the office of home-secretary,
every institution coming under my immediate cognizance has been subject
to such reforms as were considered advantageous and useful. I have
likewise the satisfaction of recollecting that every law which I found
on the statute-book at my entrance into office, imposing extraordinary
restrictions on the liberties of the subject, has been either modified
or altogether repealed. I may be a Tory, but I have the satisfaction of
observing that such has been my conduct. Tory, as I am, it is gratifying
to me to reflect that no law stands on the statute-book, in connection
with my name, which has not for its object the mitigation of the
severity of the criminal law, and the prevention of any abuse in the
administration of justice." This speech was received with loud cheers,
and elicited much applause from Mr. Brougham, who at the same
time declared his determination to support the policy of the new
administration. On the contrary, Mr. Dawson, a brother-in-law to Mr.
Peel, and late under-secretary for the home department, damaged his
reputation by his explanation, inasmuch as he allowed himself to get
into a passion with the premier. Mr. Dawson insisted that Mr. Canning
was bound to declare immediately what he intended to do with the
Catholic question, and also to bring it forward without delay. In reply
Mr. Canning said, that throughout a continued intercourse with Mr. Peel
he had u