Chapter XX

Sir Robert Peel returns to Office--Death of Lord Wharncliffe--Tory
View of the Whig Failure--Views of Sir Robert Peel and his
Colleagues--Favourable Position of the Cabinet--Lord Howick's
Statement--Lord John defended by his Friends--The Letters
of Junius--True Causes of the Whig Failure--The Corn Law
Measure under consideration--A Vindication of Peel--Irritation
of the Duke of Wellington and the Tories--Lord Melbourne's
Vehemence--Lord Granville--Lord Bessborough in favour of
Coercive Measures in Ireland--Consequences of Lord John's Letter
on Corn Law Repeal--The Peelite Party--Sir Robert's Peel's
Speech--Disclosure of Sir Robert Peel's Measure--Lord John's
View of it--Sir James Graham's View--The Movement for immediate
Repeal--The League press for immediate Repeal--Lord John's
Engagement--Hesitation on the subject of immediate Repeal--Lord
Stanley's growing Opposition--Mr. Sidney Herbert's Views and
Conduct--More moderate Counsels--Approaching Fate of the Peel
Ministry--No Dissolution--Inconsistency of Ministers--The
Westminster Election--Lord Stanley heads the Protectionist
Opposition--Lord John Russell's Inconsistency--Mr. Disraeli
leads the Protectionists in the Commons--The Conquest of the
Punjaub--Division on the Corn Bill--Lord George Bentinck's
Speech--Lord Hardinge blamed _page_ 334