Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/409

 1855.] Death of Peel to Resignation of Aberdeen. 395 opposition, 344, leaving the Government in a minority of thirty- four. There were, however, thirty-six members who were put down as neutrals, and whose votes might affect the result of a party division. The Radicals were not much affected, so far as numbers were concerned, but some additions were made of members who have since served the party in a noteworthy manner. Of these Edward Miall, who was returned for Roch- dale, became the acknowledged advocate of the Nonconformists in their efforts to promote the cause of religious equality ; and* Mr. (now Sir) Charles Forster, who was then first elected for Walsall, occupied a position as nearly approaching that of whip, or official representative of the party, as its loose and indefinite organization admitted. The new Parliament met on the 4th of November, when Mr. Shaw Lefevre was re-elected Speaker; and the pre- liminary business of swearing in members having been accom- plished, the session was opened by the Queen on the nth of November. With regard to the one subject of home policy which occupied the attention of the country, the royal speech was intentionally vague, conveying to the public the idea that ministers would, if they could, restore direct protection, but .that they hardly hoped to do this, although they would seek to carry out the same idea of conferring special advantages upon the land-owning class in some other manner. " It gives me pleasure," the speech said, " to be enabled, by the blessing of Providence, to congratulate you on the generally improved condition of the country, and especially of the industrious classes. If you should be of opinion that recent legislation, in contributing with other causes to this happy result, has at the same time inflicted unavoidable injury on certain important interests, I recommend you to dispassionately consider how far it may be practicable equitably to mitigate that injury, and to enable the industry of the country to meet successfully that unrestricted competition to which Parliament in its wisdom has decided that it should be subjected." The explanations of ministers were, if anything, more indefinite than the official statement of their policy ; and the Opposition, and the