Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/421

 1 85 5.] Death of Peel to Resignation of Aberdeen. 407 resumed his effort on behalf of religious liberty, by again bringing in a bill for the abolition of church rates. Leave was given on the 23rd of May, by 129 to 62 ; but the second reading, moved on the 2ist of June, was lost by 209 to 182. The ballot again secured a good division. Introduced by Berkeley on the I3th of June, it was lost by only a small majority, the numbers being 157 for, and 194 against. Long before this the fatal step had been taken which involved the country in the horrors of war. It had been undertaken by some at least of the ministers with a spirit quite unsuited to so solemn a responsibility. At a dinner given to Sir C. Napier, who, in anticipation of the commence- ment of hostilities, was sent to the Baltic with the English fleet, the speeches were more fitted for the opening of festi- vities than for the beginning of war. Against this manifesta- tion of levity Mr. Bright protested in the course of a discussion on the 1 3th of March, to whom Palmerston replied in terms studiously offensive, beginning by addressing his critic as the " hon. and reverend gentleman." On being rebuked by Cobden for this unseemly jest, he said, " Any opinion he (Mr. Bright) may entertain of me personally or of my conduct private or political, is to me a matter of the most perfect in- difference." There could not be much desire for peace under such coarse manifestations of levity. It is to the honour of Lord Aberdeen and some of his immediate friends that they did not share in this indifference to the horrors of war, and did all they could to avoid them. " Fate hurried onward fast," however, and on the 27th of March a message was sent from the Queen to Parliament, which was virtually a declaration of war. The address in reply was agreed to the next day with- out a division, but after an eloquent protest from Mr. Bright. J After this all thoughts were directed to the one subject, and nothing of importance took place, until on the 1 2th of August Parliament was prorogued. The war had been carried on, giving proof once more of the valour of English soldiers. Alma and Balaclava and Inker- man had been fought, and the men who had carried themselves