June, the honourable baronet exculpated
himself in one of the happiest speeches which he ever delivered in
parliament. On this occasion Mr. Roebuck defended Sir Robert, and
assailed Lord George with much justice and more acrimony; but the speech
was well received by the house, and by the country, and increased the
honourable member's reputation as a debater and a politician. Mr. Hume,
then in the zenith of his influence, followed up the blows so heavily
dealt by Sir Robert and Mr. Roebuck. The efforts of Lord George's
followers to cover his disastrous defeat were feeble and fruitless.
It was not until the 20th that the amendment proposed by Sir William
Somerville on the 9th was carried, and on the 29th the announcements
were made in the lords and commons that ministers had resigned. The Duke
of Wellington made it known to the lords, as the ministerial leader
in that house, and never was a similar communication so laconically
delivered. Sir Robert made a long speech, vindicating his policy and
his personal consistency, and declaring his unabated confidence in the
measures in favour of free-trade, which he had been enabled to carry,
and which he averred would bring peace, contentment, and prosperity to
the country. The farewell address of the minister was rendered still
more remarkable than it otherwise would have been, by his announcing
that the Oregon dispute with the United States had been amicably
adjusted. This was well received by the house and by the country,
although, perhaps, neither had given such attention to the nature of the
differences between the two countries on that subject, or the character
of the adjustment. The foreign policy of Sir Robert had neither been
firm nor dignified, and the basis of the settlement of the Oregon
dispute was simply concession on the part of England. There can be no
great merit in a minister preserving peace by giving up everything,
or nearly everything, for which he might have to go to war. On
this principle our foreign politics would be easy enough to all
administrations, and the only talent really necessary would be, the
ability to persuade parliament that, in conceding what was justly ours,
we saved the expense of defending it, and that such a course was wise,
honourable, and statesmanlike. The spirit infused into our foreign
policy by Sir Robert, and which the Earl of Aberdeen too faithfully
represented, proved, afterwards, costly alike to our resources and our
honour.

O