Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/360

 346 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1841- Prime Minister. But an important change had been made in the position by the publication of Russell's letter. What- ever was done in such a time, if it were to have its proper effect on the country and to obtain the proper support in Parliament, ought to be, and to appear to be, the spontaneous act of the Government. After the Edinburgh letter, it would be thought and said that the Government were adopting the proposition of Russell. Even this risk, however, Peel was prepared to run, if the Cabinet had been united. Stanley refused to accede to the policy proposed by his chief, and he was not the only member of the Government who would have resigned. Under these circumstances Peel resolved to send in his resignation, which he did on the 8th of December. The Queen at once sent to Lord John Russell, and after some correspondence as to the support he was to expect from Peel in dealing with the corn laws, he undertook the task of forming an Administration. He failed mainly because Lord Grey declined to join him, the refusal being, it was understood, owing to the noble earl's determination not to become a colleague of Lord Palmerston's. On the 2Oth of December Peel was informed of this failure, and was commissioned to resume office. He undertook the task, and prepared to submit to Parliament those measures which he thought necessary to meet the emergency. Stanley alone of all his old colleagues refused to serve, and his place was taken by Mr. Gladstone, whose help both in council and in Parliament was most valuable. It was under these conditions that the session of 1846 was opened on the I9th of January. The Queen's speech did not allude in direct terms to the corn laws, but, after referring to the previous repeal of prohibitive and relaxation of protective duties, it recommended Parliament to consider whether the same principles might not " be yet more extensively applied, and whether it may not be in your power, after a careful review of the existing duties upon many articles, the produce or manufacture of other countries, to make such further reductions and remissions as may tend to insure the con-