Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/469

 1865.] Palmerston's Last Administration. 455 which he professed. The consequence was a violation of the law of nations which passed for dignified independence at the time, but afterwards cost the nation a sacrifice both in wealth and honour. It was on the I3th of July that Roebuck withdrew his resolution, and on the 28th Parliament was prorogued. The description of one session, under the government of Palmerston, is very much like that of another, so far as regards internal administration. There is some variety in the nature of the foreign complications with which they contended with different degrees of feebleness, but the dull routine of inaction at home was broken only by the sound and successful financial policy of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In his depart- ment Mr. Gladstone was showing an ever-increasing desire to administer the commercial and financial affairs of the country with a view to improve the condition and advance the interests of the great body of the people. The Queen's speech, read at the opening of the session of 1864, on the 4th of February, so far differed from that of 1863, that it did mention one domestic subject to which attention would be directed. But whether or not that was an advance may be questioned when it is remembered that the favoured topic was the report of a commission, which had been appointed to revise the various forms of subscription and declaration required to be made by the clergy of the Established Church. Under these conditions the prospects of reform were not very hopeful, and yet in this dreary time one gleam of light was shown which gave a promise of brighter days. On the li th of May the bill introduced by Mr. Baines for extending the borough franchise came on for second reading. On that occasion it was strongly supported by Mr. Gladstone, in a speech which was remarkable for a bold and statesmanlike view of the question. He advocated reform because he had trust and confidence in the mass of the people, and because they had shown wisdom and self-restraint, which proved their fitness for self-government. He declared his opinion "that every man who is not presumably incapacitated by some