Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/470

 456 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1859- consideration of personal unfitness or political danger, is morally entitled to come within the pale of the Constitution." This was no mere Whig concession to popular pressure, but a broad recognition of Radical principles, and from that time forward Mr. Gladstone has more and more endeared himself to the confidence and affection of the people, and of that party in Parliament by which they are most directly repre- sented. The fate of the bill was not likely to be affected by this adhesion, and it was defeated by 272 to 216 ; but it was strongly felt that success was now only a question of time. Shortly before this, on the 1 3th of April, a closer division had been taken on the second reading of Locke King's County Franchise Bill, the numbers being 227 for, and 254 against. Berkeley's resolution in favour of the ballot, moved on the 2ist of June, was rejected by 212 to 123. During the session two losses befell the Ministry, although the effect was felt only by the individuals, the Government, or rather the Premier, remaining as strong as ever. In the first of these events the Radicals were directly interested, it being a member of their party who was attacked. Mr. Stansfeld had but recently been appointed one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and was showing considerable administrative capacity. At the trial in Paris for a conspiracy to murder the Emperor, it was stated by the Procureur- Imperial that a paper had been found in the possession of one of the accused, directing him to write for money to Mr. Flowers, at 35, Thurloe Square, Brompton, where, the Procureur said, a member of the English Parliament resided, who, in 1855, had been appointed banker to the Tibaldi conspirators against the Emperor's life. The address given was that of Mr. Stansfeld. On the 1 4th of March notice was taken of this statement in the House of Commons; and on the I7th a further debate took place, and Mr. Stansfeld of course denied that he had been concerned in, or cognizant of, any conspiracy of the kind. On the following night the subject was again discussed, and Mr. Stansfeld said that he had allowed Mazzini, the Italian patriot, to have letters directed to his house under the name