lier than usual, acknowledging the fact, and
commenting upon it according to the spirit of their respective party
bias. On Monday evening, the 25th, it was announced in both houses that
Lord J. Russell had resigned his connection with the ministry. Both
houses adjourned to the next evening, in order to learn the grounds upon
which Lord John had come to that determination. Having the _entree_
of the houses, the author of this History hurried to the palace at
Westminster. Vast crowds surrounded it, and public excitement and
expectation were at a very high pitch. In the lords, the chancellor
took his seat, and the house of lords, with a dull gravity, began its
business. The proceedings were important, from the announcement made and
the explanation given by the Duke of Newcastle, the minister of war. His
bearing was gentlemanly, and there was an air of conciliation about it
which bespoke the thoroughbred gentleman. His voice was low, and his
manner in speaking ungainly; an awkward and finicking gesture with the
right hand below the table, to which he advanced when speaking, gave an
idea of pettiness of thought, which his manner in other respects aided.
The Earls of Winchelsea and Fitzwilliam seemed very desirous to have
something to say; no one seemed willing to listen, and at last, by
Lord Derby's interposition, they were "quieted down." Lord Ellenborough
manifested most activity on the opposition side of the house, and what
he said was spoken with energy, self-confidence, and commanding manner.
Lord Lansdowne was the most active person on the ministerial benches,
he moved about with a grace and affability which account for his great
popularity in the house. His mode of putting down the pertinacity of
Lord Fitzwilliam and Lord Winchelsea was authoritative, yet courteous,
and in a few epigrammatic sentences he disposed of them. The most
interesting sight was, however, old Lord Lyndhurst, who rose to give
notice of his already famous motion concerning the conduct of the war.
The house was very full of spectators. When his lordship rose, the
silence was profound, and his venerable years, the magnitude of the
question which his notice involved, his vast reputation, and his
dignified and judicial manner, inspired a respect which manifestly
pervaded every part of the house. The crowd around the throne seemed
especially solicitous to observe his lordship when he rose. We could
not avoid contrasting the intellectual features of the