nd rhetorical artifice. In his argument, Mr. Roebuck charged the
government, the officials at home, and those in command abroad, with
incapacity, conceit, and indifference to the welfare of the soldiery.
When at last the house divided, the motion was supported by 305 members,
and opposed by only 148, leaving a majority of 157--one of the largest,
on a great public question involving the fate of a government, ever
known in the house of commons. The announcement was received with
exultant cheers from both sides of the house. The extinction of the
ministry was decided; the house and the country accepted the vote, not
merely as an expression of want of confidence politically, but as a
vote of censure morally and politically. Yet in this grave emergency the
house adjourned, in order to observe the anniversary of "King Charles
the Martyr!" Incredible as this may appear, while the country was in the
most imminent peril, such was the fact.

A cabinet council was called, and the ministry, of course, resolved to
resign. The queen and court were in great suspense and excitement, being
very unwilling to accept the resignation of the cabinet. They were
the prince's friends and favourites, and her majesty therefore was
disinclined to their forfeiture of office, and was prepared for any
constitutional measure which would give back to them the possession
of place and power. When the noble earl at the head of the government
resigned the seals of office, he recommended her majesty to seek advice
from the Earl of Derby. This noble earl had made some of the best
speeches he had ever delivered during the war debates, and his views on
the subject showed superior information and superior judgment to what
the ministry, in their aggregate capacity, possessed in connection with
foreign politics and war. It was, however, eventually, Lord Palmerston,
to whom, after many intrigues and much public agitation, the task was
confided.

Lord Palmerston, after some difficulty, succeeded in forming a
government, which was in fact but a reconstruction of the old one. Lord
Aberdeen, the Duke of Newcastle, and Lord John Russell, were left out;
and the only accession was Lord Panmure, who was nominated secretary of
war. This nobleman was better known to the country, and perhaps to other
countries, as the Honourable Fox Maule. He had considerable experience
in ministerial matters, and was regarded both by statesmen and by the
public as an upright and amiable m