ament, and whether it had been resolved
that that course should be adopted. Earl Grey declined answering the
question; and his interrogator then gave notice that he would next
day move an address to the king, praying that his majesty would be
graciously pleased not to exercise his prerogative of dissolving
parliament. The same question was put in the commons by Sir R. Vyvyan,
and Lord Althorp replied, that it was not his duty to answer the
question. The discussion on the propriety of a dissolution was continued
till the morning of the 22nd, and an adjournment on the ordnance
estimates was then moved till the next sitting. This was strenuously
resisted by the chancellor of the exchequer, on the ground that the
topic which had occupied so much time was not a question before the
house; and that he wished to get on with the report of the committee of
supply on the ordnance estimates. On a division, however, ministers were
left in a minority of twenty-two. It was clear from this that ministers
had more to decide on than the reform question, and that they had to
straggle not merely for their bill, but their places. On the next day,
therefore, they resolved to dissolve parliament.

When the house met on the 22nd, the presentation of a petition connected
with parliamentary reform furnished occasion in the commons for another
discussion on that subject. Sir R. Vyvyan inveighed strongly against
the desperation with which ministers were believed to be urging on a
dissolution in the present state of the country. He was called to order
by Sir Francis Burdett; but the speaker declared that Sir B. Vyvyan was
not out of order. A scene of indescribable confusion ensued, in which
the authority of the speaker was for some time set aside. At length Sir
B. Peel was enabled to address the house. He referred to the scene which
had been exhibited, and made a disingenuous use of it, declaring that it
was a specimen of what might be expected in a reformed house of commons,
whereas the disturbance was created by those who were desirous, _per fas
et nefas_, to obstruct the measure before the house. Sir Robert, in a
strain of unhappy invective, reiterated his previous denunciations of
all reform.

Sir Robert was interrupted by the sergeant-at-arms, who knocked at the
door, and the usher of the black rod, who suddenly appeared to summons
the speaker and the members, to the house of peers, to hear the
prorogation of parliament.

In the upper house