Page:Life of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel.pdf/15

Rh This country has perhaps never partaken of a more wide spread sentiment of sorrow, than upon the removal from among us, of one of our greatest statesmen. Within twenty-four hours, the announcement of Sir Robert Peel's death, passed from hand to hand, and from mouth to mouth, in every town and hamlet throughout the length and breadth of the land, and was everywhere received with one pervading emotion of serious and unaffected regret. He has left behind him a renown which will still increase, for the great measures with which his name is associated, are destined to be further developed. We have already mentioned, that he had given up all idea of resuming office, but he exercised a power of a higher description, and one universally acknowledged; in all public affairs, and, particularly in home affairs, he had almost the influence of an oracle. Nor was that influence confined to our own country. The manner in which he understood and practised the law of nations, is of a nature to inspire the whole of Europe with a sense of his loss. Peace and civilization are deprived of one of their admirable defenders, and it may be safely predicted, that all parties in their turn will one day miss him, and even his opponents will cherish the memory of his customary presence and constant parliamentary labours.

The first time the House of Lords met, after the death of Sir Robert Peel, and before public business began, Lord Lansdowne spoke as follows:—"My Lords, it is quite true, that when we look around this place we do not feel the loss of any important person; there is no great blank in this place; but we are all deeply made aware of a loss which has occurred in another assembly, with which we are connected by so many ties and relations, political and personal. Breathing as we do the same atmosphere, and daily occupied with the same objects, any occurrence deeply affecting the interests and proceedings of that assem-