of a Conservative, nay, of every true lover of his country and its institutions.  With surprising energy, calmness, and foresight, he instantly addressed himself to the formation, even under those inauspicious and disheartening circumstances, of that great CONSERVATIVE party of which he is now the acknowledged head.  In 1841, just before the general election, he thus reminded that party, and apprized the country at large of the principle on which he had acted in 1832.  We beg our readers to ponder his words, and the period when he uttered them.

“I then foresaw the good that might result from laying the foundation of a great Conservative party in the state, attached to the fundamental institutions of the country—­not opposed to any rational change in it which the lapse of years, or the altered circumstances of society might require, but determined to maintain, on their ancient footing and foundation, our great institutions in church and state.  In order to form that party, however, it was necessary, in the first instance, to widen the foundation on which it should stand:  to call into our connexion men from whom we had been separated in consequence of differences which no longer existed.  My grand object was to build up that great party which has been gradually acquiring strength in this country—­which has been gradually widening the foundation on which it stands, and which has drawn, from time to time, its support from its opponents."[11]

[11] Speech to the Tamworth Electors on 28th June 1841,
(Painter, Strand.)

The shortest and best evidence of the success which has attended the unwearied exertions of Sir Robert Peel during the ensuing then years, is afforded by the following summary of the results of the four general elections since the passing of the Reform Bill; three of them under the auspices and with the unscrupulously exercised patronage of the Reform Government.  Observe the ascending and descending scales:—­

           C. L.
          187 471 (1832)
          275 383 (1835)
          314 344 (1837)
          373 283 (1841)

Who was it but its founder, that led the Conservative party through these successive stages of triumph?  Who did so much as he to effect that gradual but decisive change in public opinion which, in 1841, routed the Liberal Ministry in spite of their extraordinary exertions and advantages, and placed a Conservative Government at the head of affairs?  To enable us to appreciate the importance of that great victory, and also the decision of character evinced on that occasion by Sir Robert Peel, let us for a moment advert to the calm self-reliance with which, amidst the breathless apprehensions and misgivings of his whole party, he gave battle to the enemy—­proposed the memorable vote of want of confidence, and carried it by a majority of one.[12] A more critical move never was followed by more signal success; every ensuing event serving