moving Jewish disabilities; he declared
that he "personally approved of that measure, but condemned the policy
of government in bringing it forward without the hope of carrying it,
for by that means the cause lost ground." This was mere pretence on the
part of the honourable and rhetorical leader of the opposition; he knew
well that, assured of the support of the commons, the government acted
justly to the country and to those aggrieved by bringing the measure
through the lower house, and throwing the responsibility of rejecting it
upon the lords. Besides, the election of Baron Rothschild for the city
of London constrained the government to adopt some course, and that
which they chose was the most dignified and constitutional. Mr.
Hume made some able strictures on the speech of "the reviewer of the
session," and Lord John Russell replied to it at length with skill and
dignity. Nevertheless, the brilliant periods of "the oriental orator"
had their effect on both sides of the house; and Mr. Disraeli was on
the whole a more popular man, so far as admiration of his genius was
concerned.

On the 5th of September the house closed its labours. It had been one
of the longest sessions on record; but from various causes, such as the
indifferent management of the government, the failure of the chancellor
of the exchequer, the obstructions offered by the opposition, and the
disturbed state of public affairs, very little was accomplished. Her
majesty prorogued parliament in person in the new chamber of peers,
which was made ready for the occasion. The Dukes of Nemours and
Joinville (sons of the fallen French monarch) were present. The usual
formalities on these occasions took place, rendered remarkable only by
the congratulations expressed in the address to her majesty, delivered
by the speaker of the House of Commons, on the loyalty of her majesty's
people, notwithstanding the efforts of some "misguided men." Her
majesty's speech briefly, and in the usual common-place terms, referred
to the various legislative measures of the session, and she alluded,
in terms of strong approbation, to the conduct of the lordlieutenant of
Ireland (the Earl of Clarendon), and to the loyalty of her people, in
promptly suppressing the efforts of evil-disposed persons to disturb the
public peace, for purposes of malice and pillage. The parliament stood
prorogued to the 2nd of November.

The wearied members, after ten months' almost unremitting and pat