Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/238

 224 History of the Radical Party in Parliament, [1827 by the political unions and other associations in favour of Parliamentary reform, had been increasing in earnestness, and the well-known weakness of the Government had encouraged the movement. This public feeling had been increased to a state of great excitement by the events which had been taking place in France and Belgium. All through the sum- mer, the whole of Europe had been watching with the keenest interest the proceedings which were taking place in Paris ; the endeavours made by Charles X. and his ministers to destroy what constitutional liberties existed in France ; and the re- sistance which the chambers, the press, and the people offered to the attempt. The struggle culminated in the three days' revolution, which closed, on the 2Qth of July, in the triumph of the people and the expulsion of the King. This was just when the English constituencies were entering on that election contest which was to be the prelude of a revolution less violent, but not less important, than that which had occurred in France. The spirit of the reformers all over the kingdom was roused, and their exertions were encouraged by the victory in Paris, and they entered upon the campaign with a vigour which broke down the influence of territorial magnates and borough-mongers, and resulted in the return, for the first time in forty years, of a House of Commons in which the reforming element was predominant. There had been great distress in the country for some time past, and this, whilst it predisposed the people to political change, urged some of them to turbulence and disorder. There were riots, rick-burning, machine-breaking, and other acts of violence which might draw attention to, but could not relieve, the prevalent suffering. It was under these conditions that the new Parliament met on the 26th of October, and, the preliminaries having been got through, the session was opened on the 2nd of November by the new King in person. In the royal speech there was one sentence which implied, rather than expressed, opposition to a reform of the Constitution. After speaking of the loyalty and attachment of the great body of his people, the King went on to say, " I am confident