e of his great authority in the
house, was only carried by a majority of three. In the commons the bill
was also carried, and by large majorities. The opposition to it was
badly led by Mr. Anstey; the chief champion of the measure was the
celebrated Irish orator, Richard Lalor Shiel. During these debates the
Whigs, and especially the members of government, adopted the vocabulary
of Roman Catholics, such as "the holy father," "the holy see," "the head
of the church," &c. Mr. Shiel exceeded the bounds of prudence in this
respect. Still, while from some quarters a warm opposition out of doors
was offered, the great bulk of the people in Great Britain regarded the
progress of the measure with indifference.

_Bill for the Alteration op the Navigation Laws_.--It has been already
shown that the intention of the government to make some alteration in
these laws was the occasion of a fierce agitation, and of one of the
most remarkable popular demonstrations ever made in this country.
A variety of circumstances tended to determine the government. The
free-trade party insisted upon it as necessary to carry out their
principle; and the legislative council and assembly of Canada, had, in
1847, adopted a joint address to the queen, praying for the opening of
the St. Lawrence to all nations, and the abolition of the navigation
laws. From various other colonies remonstrances as to the operations
of these laws were constantly arriving at the Colonial office; foreign
powers had also expressed complaints and offered reciprocity. On these
grounds, as well as on sound principles of political economy, the
government pressed for a decision of the house against the continuance
of the state of the laws as they stood. Sir Robert Peel gave the
government a very effective support, declaring that these laws could not
possibly be preserved on their present basis. Mr. Hume, who was a very
forward champion of English radicalism and colonial monopoly, at first
objected to the new policy, but in equivocal and undecided terms, and
finally supported the government. Mr. Gladstone spoke as if for the
purpose of showing that he could consistently support either side, as he
practically opposed both. Mr. Cobden made a "peace-society" speech,
as illogical as it was inappropriate, in reply to which Mr. Disraeli
delivered an oration, the statistics of which were for him unusually
accurate; and confuted the allegations upon which Mr. Cobden based his
theory, that w