Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/325

 1841.] Accession of the Queen to Fall of Melbourne. 311 three moderate so-called Liberals in the majority, Lord A. Lennox, W. Long, and H. D. Goring ; but their defection caused no surprise, and they could never have been relied upon as supporters. The vote had indeed been close on the Conservative side, for, whilst in January, 1840, they had nine absentees, there were none when Peel took his vote.* All business, except that absolutely necessary for carrying on the public service, was now suspended, and on the 22nd of June Parliament was prorogued by the Queen in person, and on the following day it was dissolved. The elections, especially in the English counties, went against the Government. Their net loss was forty votes, equal to eighty on a division, so that before Parliament met it was known that Peel would have a good working majority.! The new Parliament assembled on the ipth of August, and on the 24th the Queen's speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. It seemed almost ridiculous to go through the process of preparing and delivering a royal speech advising Parliament to pursue a policy which it was absolutely known would not be adopted, and nothing but waste of time could result. The principal clause in the speech was that which stated that " Her Majesty is desirous that you should consider the laws which regulate the trade in corn. It will be for you to consider whether those laws do not aggravate the natural fluctuations of supply ; whether they do not embarrass trade, derange the currency, and by their operation diminish the comfort and increase the privations of the great body of the community." In both Houses amendments were moved declaring a want 1841. f The profit and loss are given as follows in the "Annual Register," 1841, p. 147 : Conservative gains. Liberal gains. English boroughs ... ... ... 38 ... ... ... 31 ,, counties ... 23. .. ... I Scotch boroughs ... ... ... 2 ... ... ... I ,, counties 5 3 Irish boroughs ,.. ... ... ... 6 ... ... ... I ,, counties ... ... ... ... 4 ... .. ... I 78 38
 * These details of the division are given in the Times of the 8th of June,