of 1859 met; and how were we, except in that spirit of compromise which is the principal characteristic of our political system, how could we introduce a Reform Bill after that election, without in some degree considering the possibility of lowering the borough franchise?  But it was not a franchise of 6 pounds, but it was an arrangement that was to be taken with the rest of the bill, and if it had been met in the same spirit we might have retained our places.  But, says the right honorable gentleman, pursuing his history of the Reform question, when the government of Lord Derby retired from office “we came in, and we were perfectly sincere in our intentions to carry a Reform Bill; but we experienced such opposition, and never was there such opposition.  There was the right honorable gentleman,” meaning myself, “he absolutely allowed our bill to be read a second time.”

That tremendous reckless opposition to the right honorable gentleman, which allowed the bill to be read a second time, seems to have laid the government prostrate.  If he had succeeded in throwing out the bill, the right honorable gentleman and his friends would have been relieved from great embarrassment.  But the bill having been read a second time, the government were quite overcome, and it appears they never have recovered from the paralysis up to this time.  The right honorable gentleman was good enough to say that the proposition of his government was rather coldly received upon his side of the house, but he said “nobody spoke against it.”  Nobody spoke against the bill on this side, but I remember some most remarkable speeches from the right honorable gentleman’s friends.  There was the great city of Edinburgh, represented by acute eloquence of which we never weary, and which again upon the present occasion we have heard; there was the great city of Bristol, represented on that occasion among the opponents, and many other constituencies of equal importance.  But the most remarkable speech, which “killed cock robin” was absolutely delivered by one who might be described as almost a member of the government—­the chairman of ways and means [Mr. Massey], who, I believe, spoke from immediately behind the prime minister.  Did the government express any disapprobation of such conduct?  They have promoted him to a great post, and have sent him to India with an income of fabulous amount.  And now they are astonished they cannot carry a Reform Bill.  If they removed all those among their supporters who oppose such bills by preferring them to posts of great confidence and great lucre, how can they suppose that they will ever carry one?  Looking at the policy of the government, I am not at all astonished at the speech which the right honorable gentleman, the Secretary of State, has made this evening.  Of which speech I may observe, that although it was remarkable for many things, yet there were two conclusions at which the right honorable gentleman arrived.  First, the