The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-09 00:00:00

in town, I had no time to hunt up my country-
friends and consult them, and I think you will'
)- admit that I acted as became a true representative
1
of a party and as a loyal Ontlernan when I said at
once, "Rather let me forego this high appoint-
' meat than incur the slightest .possible risk of in-
flicting any damage, in the chance of a, contested
election, into which I had 'no time to inquire, on
the
havecause sgit to do m
w„huichildesire toe n
hoasson (Cheers.)itsitandtef I
friends
w
repeat that it I had then had 12 hours to con
sider, I should have come to a different decision.
But I had not an hour before me; and I sm sure
th,re is not a smock-frock in that crowd who will
blame a member for Hertfordshire if he was no
greedy hunter after place, but was over timid lest
he might injure his friends, and over eager to sact i-
fice what is generally deemed a high object of am-
bition to the safety of the common cause. (Floor.)
That, gentlemen, was the reason, and the only rea-
son, coming entirely .from myself at the spur of
the moment, why I did not accept office .in Lord
Derby's Government when it was first formed.
Well, but a few days ago Lord Derby again asked
me whether I would accept the same office which
he had offered me before, in consequence of the re-
cent changes in his Cabinet. . Then the case was
altered. In the meantime I had ample leisure to
ascertain what was the state of public f cling in the
country. I had received overtures of the most cor-
dial support from all Sides, and though I was then
told that I should have a vehement and expensive
opposition to encounter, do not believe that on this
occasion I could have the meanness to boast when
I say, I bad not the smallest fear of that opposi-
tion. Therefore, gentlemen, I at once accepted,
and Lord Derby was good enough to recommend
my: name to her Majesty fur the office which I have.
now the honour to fill. I need only say that there
areliberal gentlemen all around me who will, lam
surct
, join in the contradiction which has just been
given by Mr. Dimsdale to the absurd report that
tlieie is any kind of understanding ber.ween any
persons whatever on either side with regard to Mr.
Grosvenor being withdrawn on this occasion. I
give you my honour that no such idea was ever en-
tevained. Anticipating a severe, or at all events, a
wa4m contest, I commenced my canvass the day
after my seat was vacated ; and permit me to ex-
preSs my most cordial gratitude to those Mends
whO so-promptly came forward in mybehalf. In no
prqvious instance did I ever meet.with so kind a re--

pion or receive so many expressions of sympathy
let regard. In the evening of the same day some
nttlernen of the Liberal party in a very hand-,
nie and very considerate manner hastened
► I say that all opposition would be with-
rawn. A mean and spiteful opponent might
ive delayed ' that information in 'order to
,ve me at least as much fatigue and ex-
eiise as possible. But I beg to acknowledge
id frank and gr tc4ul manner and spirit in which
IA communication was made at once—a spirit
*lll agree with Mr. Radcliff* in thinking was
orthy of the high character of the Whig gentle-
ep of this county, and wbich ia also honourable
1 the straightforward candour of my fellow-coun-
re
37' en, the Liberal electors. (Hear, hear.) Gentle-
° of thce Lib,Tal party who mky be here present,
t refo,e beg you to acc apt from me this ac-
1i
1 wledgment as from man to man. In the arena
' °laical strife there can be no happier moment
ri when both parties lower their arms, but not
r fl I gs, and when generous opponents can ex-
tL„ie courtesies which compromise no political
i ciple, while they preserve the bonds of priiate
Itadship and 'esteem. (Hear.) On such an occa-
, then, you will understand that it would very
become me to touch more than I can help on any
hating party topic's, since there is to be no irri-
lip, party contest. And when I recall the per-
ialskinduess which I received in early life from
Od Melbourne—of whom no man ever heard me
ak except in terms of affectionate respect—l own
it it does please me to think—whatever I'may
e done in the House of Commons when I Was
to face with Lord Palmerston—whatever I
y do again when I shall be once more face to
le with him—that I am not called upon before a
trtfordshire audience to say behind that noble
d.'s back anything which might wound his friends I
a relations—the friends and relations of a man

who was Lord Melbourne's intimate associate and
near connection. As long as a public man is alive
he is always judged by the last thing he does. (A
laugh.) When be is no more he wilt be judged by
the best things he has done. And who- ever •may
or 'may not have been the faults _ of Lord Palmer-
i
steu's recent Administration, there can be no doubt
ti 4t posterity, looking to the best things which he
hap done, will regard him as one of the most re-
markable men of our age, or that this country will
heeeafter be proud to think that by connection and
prisperty he was a Hertfordshire man. (Cheers )
You
.all know how Lord Palinerston's Govern-
ment fell, and how Issrel Derby's Government
acceded to office. There is no doubt that the new
Administration had many difficulties to contend
with, but its main difficulty was plainly this :—the
last election had turned on points about which
Conservatives differed—their strength bad not been
fairly tested, and Lord Derby could not rely for a
ivbrking majority on his own adherents alone in
a Parliament which had been chosen under the Ad-
ministration of his predecessor. It was nece-sary
that he should also trust to the forbearance of those
independent Liberal members by whose aid he had
been placed amid unforeseen and unsolicited respon-
siilities ; and I am bound to say that by a large
proportion of the independent Liberal members of
the House of Commons that forbearance has bean
hitherto shown with a manly generosity which is
honourable to those who display it, and not dis-
cieditable to those who receive it. (Hear.) lam
Ore that any one who has watched the temper of
tlse House of Commons during the last few years
rust have noticed that between the Conservatives
and some of the most eminent men among inde-
pendent Liberal members there has grown up a
disposition to regard each other's views and policy
with more fairness, more freedom from prejudice 1
than formerly existed, when party was split up only
into two obstinate and unyielding divisions. During
tile last few years you will find that Conservative
and independent Liberal members have spoken on
the same side and voted in the same lobby. In the
absorbing interest of the Russian war their hearts
beat in the same cause, they mourned for the Same
disasters, they exulted in the same achievements ;
and in the course of that national sympathy they
discovered that, while there were indeed points on
which they materially differed, there were points in
domestic and foreign policy on which they could
honourably agree. It is quite true that the Con-
servatives are distinguished by a love for our
ancient institutions; but the more a man loves
his own house the more he must desire to keep it
in repair, and so far adapt it to modern conve-
n'ence as to give his children no excuse to pull
it down. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Well, nothing
can be more natural than that when Lord Derby's
Government -came into power the independent
Liberal members, not being able to form a Minis-
try of their own, and not at all wishing to restore
the Ministry which had just been defeated, should
have desired to give those men against whom they
have no violent prejudice a fair English trial and
fair English play. (Cheers.) Yet, while they have
valued that support, while it is a support which
every Government must be very happy to receive,
I trust no one will suppose that we should thereby
alienate our own tried and faithful adherents. It
is the policy of every wise party to extend as far
as it possibly can the range of its numbers. It is
the policy of every wise Government to occupy
the largest space it honourably can do in public
opinion. But neither a wise party nor a wise Go-
vernment will ever be untrue to its friends or ever
covet power at the sacrifice of honour. (Cheers.)
I trust that her Majesty's Government will not
leave behind, but will carry along with them, in
that path of temperate progress which every Go-
vernment now-a-days is compelled to take, those
friends who now cheer and encourage our efforts..
(A. Voice—" How about the ballot ?")
that I would not touch on irritating. party topics.
I have raid
I will, therefore, not allude to Mr.°Cardwelfssninoe-
tion. I regard that question as past and done
with. Still, as the Government in the cou_rseolfothte
late debate were charged with the wanter of capacity
chlayd
and power, they
whichanswwere denied to
have a right to
the capacity and the powera n
et to
the
our predecessors. We had .he capacity
d
the Conspiracy Bill, ' an y
power to withdraw
preserve amicable relations
1 with France. (Cheers.)
and capacity to obtain the im-
mediateWe had the power
from a Neapoli-
tan release of our countrymen
(Cheers.) We had the power and capa-
city prison.
which • d
budget was receive with
to frame a
eneral favour,
and which kept faith with the
e
e on the master grievance of the income-tax.
(gear,) And
) And when a vote of censure was raised
against us our opponents had not the power and
capacity to carry i hat vote into effect. (Cheers.) But
I shall now turn from the past and glance very briefly
at some of the measures which must be reserved
for the serious consideration of the Government.
First, with respect to the important subject of law
reform. We have the good fortune to have for our
law officers men of the highest eminence in their