Chapter XIII: The Free Trade Parliament

Opening of Parliament in 1846--The Queen’s Speech--The Debate on the Address--Sir Robert Peel’s Statement--Mr. Disraeli’s Philippics--Bishop Wilberforce on Peel’s Reception by the House of Commons--Peel’s Mistake--Lord George Bentinck’s Attack on Prince Albert--The Queen’s Explanations--The Court and the Peelites--The Corn Bill in the House of Lords--Lord Stanley’s Political Dinner-Party--The Duke of Wellington and the Peers--Triumph in the Lords and Defeat in the Commons--Peel’s Coercion Bill for Ireland--A Factious Opposition--Fall of the Government--Their Policy in India--War in the Punjab--Victories over the Sikhs--The Oregon Controversy and its Settlement--Lord Aberdeen’s Adroit Diplomacy--Resignation of the Ministry--The Queen’s Farewell to Peel--Her Suggestion of a Coalition--Wellington and Cobden Advise Peel to Dissolve--Reasons for his Refusal--The Queen and the Duke of Wellington--The Duke’s Letter to Lord John Russell--Lyndhurst and Reconstruction--Disintegration of the Tory Party--The Peelites in Opposition--A Hint from Aristophanes--Tory Persecution of Peel 220