Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/103

 1 807.] From Irish Union to Dismissal of Grenville. 89 The new Ministry was entirely Tory. The Duke of Port- land was the nominal Premier, but he was old and infirm, and the real leadership was understood to be in the hands of Perceval, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer. Eldon was Lord Chancellor, enough in itself to banish all hope of progress. Canning indeed, who became foreign minister, was destined to disturb the equanimity of the Tory ranks ; but at present, although not quite understood by his colleagues, he did not, in the opinion of the country, alter the complexion of the Government. For such a Cabinet even the Parliament which had given such proofs of its docility contained too large an element of Liberalism, and on the 2/th of April it was prorogued and dissolved, having existed only four months and seven days. The new House of Commons was, if possible, to be made "thorough." Every bad political instru- ment was brought into use to effect this purpose. The privy purse was drawn upon to aid corruption ; the influence of the Crown was used to fascinate ; the power of Government was exercised to intimidate ; the no-popery cry was raised to excite the bigot ; the attractions of place and pension were offered to allure the corrupt and the ambitious. Never were the evils of the unreformed system of representation so signally exhibited, so unblushingly adopted. The success was com- plete. The New Parliament met on the 22nd of June, and when test votes were taken on proposed addresses censuring the late dissolution, they were lost in the Lords by 160 to 67, and in the Commons by 350 to 155. The high Tory party had obtained that full power which it was destined to use for many a year, in opposing every form of liberty and repressing every sign of national life.