Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/324

 3io History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1837- declared that he looked upon the question as one of confidence, and, while declaring his adhesion to a sliding scale in the corn duties, refused to submit a competing budget to that of ministers. On a division the numbers were for going into committee, 281 ; against, 317, leaving Government in a minority of 36. This would have been enough for any ordinary ministers, but, to the surprise of the House and the country, Baring got up as though nothing particular had happened, and quietly announced that on the Monday following he should move the usual annual sugar duties. This was a very calm way of taking a beating, but the fact was, that Government did not mean to resign until they had obtained all the benefit they could from their last move as to the corn laws. They were, however, no longer able to dictate even the terms of their capitulation. Russell fixed the 4th of June for bringing on his corn law resolution ; but- Peel immediately afterwards gave notice that on the 27 th of May he would move a direct vote of want of confidence. The debate which arose on this motion extended over five nights, but on the 4th of June a division was taken which left the Government in a minority of one 312 voting with Peel, and 311 for Government. Even the Melbourne Administration could not stand against such a blow as this. They would not resign, indeed, for there was a bare chance that an election might increase their following ; and they wished not to dissolve Parliament without submitting their corn law resolution, but, pressed by their conqueror, they declared that no time should be lost. The hope of success at the polls was not very promising, for the votes given in the House were consequent on those which had been cast in the country. In the previous year Buller's motion of want of confidence had been lost by twenty-one votes ; Peel's was now carried by a majority of one, and this did not represent any defection of Whigs or Radicals, but was the result of changes in the representation made in the mean time.. Between January, 1840, and June, 1.841, there were ten gains by Conservatives and two losses, making a difference of sixteen on a division. There were