ne part of the speech recommended, they would find themselves
fully competent to cope with the existing difficulties. To some of the
causes which had led to the distress parliament could apply no remedy;
but it was in their power to satisfy the country as to what those causes
were, and to afford a partial relief by giving a better direction to the
capital of the country. Mr. Peel expressed surprise that Mr. Huskisson
should support an amendment like the present, considering his
long-expressed opinions. Session after session Mr. Huskisson
had resisted commissions of inquiry, lest he should excite false
expectations; and he now supported an amendment founded on principles
and intended to lead to conclusions from which he totally dissented,
because he thought it stated a matter of fact somewhat more correctly
than did the speech itself. Mr. Peel then contended that the speech did
not misstate facts; but proved the non-existence of universal distress
by the increase of the internal and foreign trade of the country.
Several members expressed their intention to vote for the address,
although they believed the distress to be more general than the speech
represented. As for the Whigs, they were divided between their wish not
to leave the ministry, which showed a leaning towards them, exposed to
defeat, and the fear of endangering their popularity by appearing to be
indifferent to public suffering. Lord Althorp, for instance, was sorry
to give a vote which might give him the appearance of joining the
opponents of government; but found it to be his duty to vote for
the amendment, because he believed the distress to be universal. Mr.
Brougham, also said his vote for the amendment was wrung from him,
because he thought it more correctly represented the state of things;
but if he could bring himself to think that the effect of the amendment
would be to displace the present government, he would vote for the
address. Mr. Spring Rice expressed himself to the same effect. But these
declarations of the leading members of opposition did not prevent their
adherents from carrying their votes to the ministry; and the amendment
was negatived by a majority of one hundred and fifty-eight against one
hundred and five.

On the following day, when the report on the address was brought up, the
Marquis of Blandford moved that the following extraordinary amendment,
which he termed, "a wholesale admonition to the throne," should be
appended to the add