on for that
statesman; I believe that few men have rendered greater services to
mankind than he has. Yet I do not believe that Sir Robert Peel was
always infallible in his political career. It is my opinion that Sir
Robert Peel would have left a much more illustrious name behind him, if,
instead of having been compelled by circumstances to introduce reforms,
he himself had originated them. I think that Sir Robert Peel would have
left behind him a fame unequalled in history, if, instead of proposing
the emancipation of the Catholics in 1829, he had proposed it in 1825. I
think that his name would have eclipsed all those of ancient and modern
statesmen if the reform of the corn-laws had been initiated in 1840--a
good harvest year--instead of being passed in consequence of the
famine which desolated Ireland, and instead of being in some measure a
consequence of the potato disease. In fact, if Sir Robert Peel had
been the originator of reforms, he would at his death have left to
his friends a political inheritance far different from that which he
bequeathed to them. If Sir Robert Peel had associated his name and
his whole career with successive reforms, there would be no need of
recording at the present time a strange fact which has taken place in
England--namely, that a party, consisting of eminent men, including the
most eloquent speaker in parliament, and the most able legislators, has
been completely routed at the late elections. And this, gentlemen, is
the fate of parties who allow themselves to be led by public opinion,
and who wait to the last moment to carry out reforms which they have
not the courage to introduce. I trust that the senate, convinced of this
truth, will give its support to the present government, which, while
following the example of Sir Robert Peel, nevertheless deviates from
the course he adopted by making itself the originator of reforms, not
waiting to grant them to any popular pressure, nor to the pressure of
unforeseen circumstances."

PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT.

The queen in person prorogued parliament on the 15th of August. The
address to her majesty, and the royal speech, were ordinary documents.
The houses were prorogued to the 15th of October, but parliament did not
meet again for the transaction of business that year.

THE COURT.

_Birth of a Prince_.--On the 1st of May her majesty was delivered of a
son, the third prince that had been born to her. The baptism took place