Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/241

 1832.] Canning's Premiership to Passing of Reform Act. 227 question of reform the Premier himself, from his long advocacy of the subject and the importance which he gave to it, may be said to have been the guiding spirit. After the formation of the Government little was done in Parliament. The Regency Act was passed, and some necessary routine got through ; and on the 23rd of December both Houses adjourned to the 3rd of February, the long adjournment being declared necessary in order to enable ministers to prepare the various measures which they wished to submit, and more particularly the plan of reform, to which they were especially pledged. This last and greatest subject was immediately proceeded with. As soon as the Administration was definitely organized, Earl Grey appointed a committee to discuss the whole subject and report upon it to the Cabinet. " This committee consisted of Lord Durham, his own son-in-law, who was perfectly acquainted with Lord Grey's views on the subject ; of Lord Duncannon, who was supposed to be well versed in borough history and details, more especially in Ireland ; of Sir James Graham, who was popular with the more ardent reformers, and at that time deemed almost a Radical ; and of Lord John Russell, who had represented the Whig party in the House of Commons when dealing with the question of reform in his various proposals on the subject." * The Houses reassembled on the 3rd of February, 1831 ; and on the ist of March Lord John Russell introduced the Reform Bill in the Commons, and its provisions were for the NOT IN CABINET. Charles Wynn Sir W. Home Sir James Kempt Duke of Devonshire Ireland. Marquis Wellesley Marquis of Anglesey Earl of Albermarle Lord Plunkett Marquis of Winchester Sir John Byng Lord John Russell E. S. T. Stanley G. A. Ellis E. Pennefather C. P. Thompson P. Crampton Sir T. Denman Lord Duncannon joined the Ministry afterwards.
 * Roebuck's " History of the Whig Ministry of 1830," vol. ii. pp. 28, 29.