, and adverted to the
peculiar interest with which he regarded a sovereign whose birth he
had been one of the first to witness. The address was seconded by Lord
Portman, and fully assented to by the Duke of Wellington, who said he
would follow the example which had been set him of abstaining from every
remark that could awaken party feeling. The address was then agreed to,
and ordered to be presented with the usual forms.

In the commons the address was moved by Lord Leveson, and seconded by
Mr. Craig. A discussion followed, in which Mr. Wakley took the lead.
After hearing the speech from the throne, Mr. Wakley said he rose to
remind ministers that they had some radical supporters in the house, a
circumstance which they appeared to have forgotten. After hearing the
speech from the throne, he could not avoid asking to what purpose
they had been so anxious, in 1835, to eject Sir Robert Peel and the
Conservatives? It was complained of the speech from the throne framed by
Sir Robert in that year, that it was vague and unsatisfactory: he, Mr.
Wakley, had never read a speech from any sovereign of this country more
open to the same reproach than the present one. He thought that at the
commencement of a new reign, with a young queen educated as ours had
been, the people had a right to expect a more explicit acknowledgment of
their grievances, and some indication of the means of redress. They
were now fresh from the hustings, where they had all been liberal in
promises: even the Tories had professed themselves the friends of
the people, and declared their delight in seeing the operatives come
forward, and take a share in politics. In order to test the sincerity of
both parties, he would move an amendment, in general terms, in favour of
an extension of the suffrage. Mr. Wakley concluded his speech by moving
three amendments, which he said he would put to the house separately,
in order that members might have no excuse for avoiding to vote on any
particular proposition. The first amendment was to the effect, "That
this house embraces the earliest opportunity of respectfully assuring
her majesty, that it will in the present session of parliament take
into consideration the state of the representation of the people in this
branch of the legislature, with a view to ensure by law an equitable
extension of the elective franchise." This amendment was seconded by
Sir W. Molesworth, and supported by Messrs. Hume and Grote. On the other
ha