Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/277

 1837-] First Reformed Parliament to Death of William IV. 263 following outnumbered the whole of the British Liberals. The Irish party had also to be secured, and the character and temper of O'Connell made this a more difficult matter. It was so evidently the policy of all sections to unite for the defeat of the ministers that the alliance to that extent was accomplished. The price, in promises, which was paid to the Irish members was shown when the time for decisive action came. This did not arrive quite so early as was expected, although its coming was foreshadowed on the first night of the session. The House of Commons met on the iQth of February ; the first business was to elect a Speaker, and this was made the occasion of a trial of strength. Now that the Liberals were in opposition, their leaders could not take the course they did in the last Parliament, and assent to the election of a Tory Speaker; and so Mr. Abercromby was pro- posed by them, ministers on their part moving for the reappointment of Sir Manners -Sutton. The contest was closer than was expected on either side, the numbers being for Abercromby, 316; for Sutton, 306. This was enough to prove that the Government could not permanently hold office; but Peel's object was not so much to retain power as to show that his party had a practical working policy and administra- tive power for its realization. In this he succeeded, for the opposition were not strong enough to venture upon a direct vote of want of confidence. Preliminary business having been got through, the session was formally opened by the King in person on the 24th of February. To the address in reply to the speech the opposi- tion moved a very mild amendment, the principal point in which was the expression of an opinion that the late dissolu- tion was unnecessary, and that it had interfered with the progress of reforms. This was not a very inspiriting war-cry, and it did not rally the party to any violent effort, the amendment, after three nights' debate, being carried by a majority of seven only, the numbers being 309 for, and 302 against. This was discouraging to the opposition, and gave the Government time to develop their policy. Peel took