oon settled, may, in an
adverse state of affairs, cause a fearful convulsion." Lord John Russell
concluded by expressing the obligations he felt to her majesty for the
gracious manner in which she entrusted him with the task of forming the
administration; and by stating that, whether in office or out of office,
he should be ready to give his assent to measures calculated to benefit
the country, without reference to the proposer. Mr. D'Israeli was not so
liberal in his sentiments. As the champion of protection, he asked,
what would be thought of a statesman who, having served under four
sovereigns, came forward and declared that, after an observation of
three years, he had found it necessary to change his convictions on a
subject which must have presented itself for more than twenty years to
his notice?

The peers waved their right to discuss these great topics on the first
night of the session; awaiting the discussion in the commons. The
Duke of Richmond endeavoured to bring on a debate; but ministers were
taciturn; and after a long and discursive speech delivered by Lord
Brougham, which touched upon the subjects of the Oregon dispute, the
corn-laws, and Irish affairs, the address was carried. In the course
of the evening, the Duke of Richmond wished the Duke of Wellington
to explain the reasons which induced the government to accept and to
re-accept office; but his grace said that he could not do so without her
majesty's permission. On the following Monday, however, the noble
duke explained their reasons in his own plain, straightforward, and
characteristic manner. What these reasons were has been touched upon
before.

SETTLEMENT OF THE CORN-LAW QUESTION.

The house of commons resolved itself into committee on Tuesday, the
3rd of February, to consider that portion of the speech from the throne
referring to the commercial policy of the government. Sir Robert Peel
commenced his speech by bespeaking the patient indulgence of the house.
He was about to act, he said, on the assumption adopted in the queen's
speech, that the repeal of prohibitory duties, and the relaxation of
protective duties is in itself a wise policy. He was about to act on
the presumption, that during the last three years, notwithstanding the
relaxation of heavy taxes, there had been increased revenue, increased
demand for labour, increased commerce, increased comfort, contentment,
and peace in the country. Passing on to the explanation of his v