The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-02 00:00:00

see.
ough, perhaps, he introduced some debateable grounds
Ito his observations with regard to the general and abun-
dant prosperity which, according to him, prevails in every
district of the country at the present moment, this is not
the fittest occasion on which to enter upon the debateable
grounds he has introduced. Nor, I think, should I have
risen to address your lordships at all on this occasion, h
it not been that the noble earl did not think fit to confine.
himself to the usual announcement on such occasion—
and
namely, that he and his colleagues had resigned o
only held their present position until her Majesty should'
have appointed their successors. I say, I probably should
not have risen if, in making that statement, the noble earl
had not thought it necessary to make a personal reference
to me as having been charged by her Illajesty the
formation of a Government. The noble earl, undervaluing
and nnderratieg the source from which he derived his in-
formation, stated, as a matter of general rumour, that there
had been some communication between her Majesty and
myself en that subject. The noble earl has, I say, cer-
tainly underrated the source of his information, because
not only general rumour may have informed him on the
subject, but previously to entering into this house I had,
under ray own hand, given the noble earl information as to
the result of this communication ; and, consequently, the
notoriety and general rumour which led him to believe it
might be possible—(a laugh)—that I had had some com-
munisation with her Majesty are phrases which must
have been employed by the noble earl in his usual care to
guard against exaggeration and to avoid overstating any
part of his case. (Laughter.) As your lordships may not
be all in possession of such information, I can inform
year lordships on this subject that for once, the noble earl
is not mistaken. (A laugh.) Upon the resignation of the
noble earl, it is perfectly true, and was known to most
persons, that her Majesty commanded my attendance yes-
terday morning, at half-past 11 o'clock ; that I had
a ling audience, in which I need hardly say I met with
that which every person admitted to the presence of her
Majesty invariably meets with—the most condescending
kindness, the most perfect frankness and openness, and a
manner of dealing with all public subjects, a consideration
for all personal feelings, which all who are called upon to
communicate personally with her Majesty knows to what
extent she possesses, and which must increase the affection
and loyalty that every person who has had a knowledge of
those qualities must feel for her Majesty. (Hear.) I do
not think it would be for the public interest that I should
at this time—even if I had the permission of her Majesty
to do so, which I have not—avail myself of this opportu-
nity to state all that passed upon that occasion, as well as
all that subsequently occurred. Ido think it would be in-
convenient to the public service if, while negotiations are
going on, the steps taken by public men should be pre-
maturely detailed. I think to do so might lead to serious
inconvenience to the public affairs of this country. (Hear.)
When I say that negotiations are going en, I mean that
previously to the formation of a Government I think it is
extremely inconvenient 'Let there should be a public dis-
cussion day by day of communications which may take
place between different parties tousling to the formation of
aneh a Cabinet. (Rear, hear.) I think it is the duty of
every public man, whether ho accepts or whether he ab-
stains from accepting the Government, to be prepared to
give at the proper time a full explanation both to his own
friends and to the country of the motives which induced
him either to accept or abstain from accepting office.
(Hear.) But, my lords, I think that that explanation
should never be given until a Government is actually
formed, and the state of affairs is decided. I therefore,
upon the present occasion, content myself with saying,
that feeling deeply grateful to par Maj' • ebty for the conh-
deuce with whicir she has regarded me, and feeling deeply
conscious of my own inability to discharge the duties which
this arduous pesitiou would have imposed upon me—feel-
ing at the same time that, with the probability of suc-
cess, the very difficulties with which the country is sur-
rounded would be an additional inducement to any man of
honour and character not to leave her Majesty wither& a
Government to grapple with these difficulties—l yet felt
that, in the present state of parties and in the present Ma-
t-HU-in of the House of Commons, I was not enabled to
offer her Majesty that assurance of being in a position
satisfactorily to conduct the affairs of the country which
would induce me at the present moment to accept the task
which her Majesty was pleased to confide to me; and con-
sequently, at this time, I have no charge from her Majesty
to attempt the construction of a Government. Further
than this, my lords, I think it would be impossible for me
to say, except that I concur entirely with the noble earl
opposite that, whatever may be the composition of tho Go-
vernment (while I concur also with him as to the difficulty
of obtaining it), the groat object which this country looks
for and requires in the present moment of difficulty, of
embarrassment, and, I will say, of peril, is, if it be possible
to obtain it, a strong Government. (Hear, bear.) And,
whatever Government may be intrusted with her Majes-
ty's confidence to carry on the affairs of the great war and
the great political questions in which this country is now
involved, that man is undeserving the character of a pa-
triot, or of an honest roan, who clues not to the utmost ex-
tent of his power give to the Government of the Queen
for these objects a disinterested and, as far as ho can, a
conscientious support. (Cheers.)
Their lordships then adjourned until Monday.