trade in corn; and that, in deciding on the course which it may be desirable to pursue, it will be their earnest desire to consult the welfare of all classes of my subjects. "Ever anxious to listen to the advice of my Parliament, I will take immediate measures for the formation of a new Administration."

The division on Mr. S. Wortley's amendment had so unequivocally declared the sense of the new House of Commons upon the continuance of the Whig Government, that no other course now remained open to them but immediate retirement from office. Accordingly, on the 30th of August, Viscount Melbourne, in the House of Lords, rose and spoke as follows:

"My Lords, I consider it my duty to acquaint your Lordships, that in consequence of the vote which was come to by the other House of Parliament on Saturday morning last, which was precisely similar in terms to a vote come to by your Lordships at an earlier period of the week, I have, on the part of my colleagues and myself, tendered to her Majesty the resignation of the offices we hold; which resignation her Majesty has been graciously pleased to accept, and we now continue to hold those offices only till our successors are appointed."

Th House received this announcement in perfect silence, and adjourned almost immediately afterwards.

On the same evening, in the House of Commons, Lord John Russell made a similar statement in nearly the same terms, but afterwards proceeded shortly to vindicate the course which had been recently pursued by the Government of which he was a member.

He said, that it was the conviction of that Government, that their duty to the Sovereign whose confidence they enjoyed-their persua. sion of the necessity of the measures which they advised-and their belief that the people should be consulted on questions involving their dearest interests-rendered it incumbent on them to continue the struggle to the present moment. He would not say, that as long as they could use power, as they believed, for the benefit of the country, it was with reluctance they continued in office; but this he would say, that he did not think the possession of power in this country could be accompanied by satisfaction unless there were means of carrying into effect the measures which Ministers felt essential to the welfare of the country. He did not allude then to particular measures of less or minor importance, but to measures of great and transcendent moment. "With regard to such measures," said the noble Lord, "we began, in the commencement of Lord Grey's Administration, with the Reform Act-we ended by proposing measures for the freedom of commerce. With large and important measures we commenced-with large and important measures we conclude. In pursuance of great objects we triumphed-in pursuance of great objects we have fallen." Lord J. Russell afterwards made a not ungraceful allusion to his own zeal and assiduity in the public service; and, with regard to his future conduct, stated that he should be always ready to give such an opinion as he thought might tend to the permanent improvement of our institutions; never, as he had observed on another occasion, defending abuses as if they were

institutions, and, on the other hand, never being ready to sacrifice institutions as if they were abuses. He wished also personally to express a hope, with regard to the political opponents of himself and his party, that there might be no feeling of personal bitterness between them; and if the resignation of himself and his colleagues tended to the future welfare and prosperity of the country, he should always look with satisfaction to the day on which that event occurred.

Lord Stanley immediately rose, and complimented Lord John Rus sell on the great zeal, perseverance, ability, and talent with which, not only in the duties of his own department, but in the management of the political business of the House, that noble Lord had uniformly conducted the very arduous and difficult task which was assigued to him. Lord Stanley then went on to say, that the division on the Address was not to be taken as an index of opinion as to the principles which the noble Lord (Lord John Russell) said were then under discussion. What the House of Commons said was, that under the circumstances in which the country was placed, the matters to which the Crown had invited its attention, were considerations of too great importance to be deliberated upon incidentally in the House of Commons, which, after all, could come to no division upon them, from the form in which they were put, and in the absence of any Government possessing the

confidence of the House and the country. He could not help ex. pressing his regret, that the Speech was so framed as to be liable to a misconstruction in the eyes of the community, and might lead, in the public mind, to an impression perfectly erroneous and perfectly unconstitutional of course, that those recommendations were the recommendations of the Crown, and not of the Ministers, who constitutionally advise the Crown. gave the late Government the credit of believing that, ceasing to hold office, they would not attempt to disturb those who might be called upon to undertake the business of the country by a factious opposition.

He

Lord John Russell: "I am extremely sorry, that any misconstruction has prevailed in any quarter. I thought it was generally understood, that the Speech from the throne was the Speech of Ministers. I am quite ready to say, that I hope no such misconstruction will continue to exist. The Speech was the result of the advice of Ministers, and Ministers alone are responsible for it."

On the 8th of September, new writs were moved for in the House of Commons for various places, in consequence of the acceptance of office by their representatives in the new Government formed by Sir Robert Peel. The House afterwards adjourned until the 16th of September.

The following is a list of the Ministry, as formed by the new Premier:

Woods and Forests

...

Master General of the Ordnance

...

Lord LowTHER.