sion, because it was proposed by Lord
John to abolish the oath of abjuration. Mr. Disraeli, however, offered
the chief opposition to the measure. He endeavoured to lead the house to
postpone the consideration of the bill, but obviously for the object of
gaining time to throw out the bill itself. Sir George Grey, in a speech
of unusual felicity, exposed the dishonesty of Mr. Disraeli's pretences
as to the necessity of delay in order to perfect measures which he was
eager to defeat.

The house gave leave to bring in the bill. It never was brought in, new
events depriving its author and the cabinet of the power to carry any
measure. The foregoing statement of the character of the proposed reform
bill of 1852 is, however, important, as the question of reform occupied
attention for several years subsequently in a serious degree, and "the
proposed bill of 1852" was constantly referred to by all parties in the
discussions which took place.

THE MILITIA BILL.--DEFEAT AND RESIGNATION OF THE CABINET.

On the 16th of February, Lord John, in a committee of the whole house,
explained his intentions in reference to the local militia acts. This
question excited considerable interest, as the Duke of Wellington and
Sir John Burgoyne had pointed out the possibility of an invasion, and
the defenceless state of the coasts and of the country generally. The
_coup d'etat_ in France had also created considerable public uneasiness.
The secrecy, sternness of purpose, swiftness of action, boldness, and
indifference to bloodshed shown by the president of the French republic,
caused most men to reflect upon the possibility of some terrible _coup
de main_ being attempted against England; the president, in his writings
as Prince Charles Louis Napoleon Buonaparte, having so often asserted
that he represented a defeat, the defeat of Waterloo, which France
must avenge. Lord John proposed to allow the plan of "the old regular
militia" to fall out of use, and to establish a new scheme for a local
militia. Ireland was to be exempt from the measure. In twelve months,
the number of men to be raised was 70,000, in two years 100,000, in
three years 130,000, after which period Great Britain alone should
furnish, if necessary, 180,000 men.

Lord Palmerston's expulsion from the cabinet was then about to tell on
the ministry, and the future history of party. His lordship opposed the
ministerial measure; and, released from ministerial privacy, declared
th