arose on
behalf of the government, amidst breathless expectations. His adroitness
was extraordinary, and his intellectual superiority to his notable
compeer obvious; but it was equally obvious that Lord John's moral
influence was in the ascendant, and the latter part of Lord Palmerston's
statement was heard with impatience, which extended to the galleries,
although the order of the house was more than once invaded by
expressions of approbation to the anti-ministerial remarks of Lord John.
It became evident from Lord Palmerston's address, that his lordship
would be installed in the war-office, if the motion of Mr. Roebuck
failed. Mr. Roebuck did not speak with his usual energy, but although
illness incapacitated him, his voice rang out as clear as a bell, and
every tone told upon the whole house. His speech was devoid of that
acrimony which pervades so generally the matter and the manner of the
honourable member for Sheffield. The government seemed indisposed to
reply; but loud calls from all sides for Sidney Herbert, provoked the
right hon. secretary to one of his best elocutionary efforts. We were
certainly most unfavourably impressed with his deportment all through
the evening. There was a bitterness of expression in his countenance
while Lord John was speaking, and a sneer and a whisper to his
colleagues whenever Lord John made a good hit, which argued a
consciousness of error, and a bad spirit with it. But Mr. Layard utterly
demolished the case of Mr. Herbert, and with a gravity of purpose,
fulness of information, discreet distribution of subject, and logical
cogency, which mark that gentleman as one of the most rising men in the
commons, and in the country. The government were literally overwhelmed
with his speech. The impressions of the oldest observers of
parliamentary proceedings whom we met, declared they had never witnessed
such a moral defeat.

It may be readily believed that Lord John Russell's speech prepared the
way for Mr. Roebuck's motion. The "honourable and learned member" was
in bad health, but although unable to express all he had intended to lay
before the commons, he produced a decided impression upon the house. The
fact of being unable to continue his speech from weakness rather added
to the effect; so that Mr. Disraeli truly said that, were not the house
aware of the learned member's illness, the abrupt termination of his
address on such a plea, and at such a moment, might appear an ingenious
a