The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-04 00:00:00

evitable conclusion at which I should arrive—(Hear, hear.)
—One principal ground on which! give my support to the
present Administration is, because it does practically and
in effect uphold the King in the just exercise of his prero-
gative. That is my justification on that point. But I
will tell the Right Hon. Gentleman further, that putting
aside all the great questions which he is so singularly anxi-
ous to bring under discussion, including among the rest that
of Parliamentary Reform--( A laugh)—l see sufficient rea-
aon to support this Administration---(Cheers.)---The Right
Hon. Gentleman seems never to have known that there
was a schism on the subject of Reform. It is news to him
that there were ever shades of opinion upon it. He was
not aware, it appears, that there were as many different
views of the general measures as there have always been
of comprehensive political questions. Some are for con-
fining it within narrow limits; others for extending it to
the widest. lam ready to vote for any measure of Reform.
By, supporting the present Government, I do not aban-
den or sacrifice one iota of my principles as a friend of
Parliamentary Reform, or any other question on which I
may deem it fitting and prudent to deliver my sentiments.
—(Cheers.)—Asa man of common sense, I must wish to
achieve some practical good in my time. If I cannot do
all I would, I am bound, without waiting till, perhaps,
more extensive views may be adopted, to promote all the
good which the opportunity of the passing moment offers
me.—(Hear, hear.)—lf I can, by my feeble efforts, gain
the slightest chance of advancing, in the least degree, the
public welfare, I receive all the satisfaction that can be
afforded. The Right Hon. Gentleman will taunt me in
vain with a dereliction of principle, while lie finds me thus
engaged.-e-(Cheers.)—lf I can seize and secure any good
for my country, I will grasp it. I have dedicated my life
to this pursuit, and I shall be too happy if I live to be sue-
cessful.—(Cheers. )—The Right Honourable Gentleman
has, unfortunately for himself, also attacked my Honour-
able and Learned Friend (Mr. Brougham). In this re-
spect he only followed the example of his friend, the
late Under Secretary. Indeed, they go in couples ; they
hunt together. The difference between them is only in
the degreee of expression, 'not in the principle of mo-
deration or wisdom, but simply in words and temper-
ance. My Hon. and Learned Friend well said, that the
late Under Secretary's language was an honest expo-
sure of his sentiments. It was the honesty of anger, of
passion, of uneontrouled feeling, unmitigated, unmodified
either by reason or discretion.—(Cheers and laughter.)
--
I feel grateful to the Right Hon. Gentleman for having
assumed the same tone. I can now speak of them toge-
ther. He has done a great service to the Ministry as well
as to me. My Hon: and Learned Friend, who stands in
the most extraordinary and honourable predicament, has
beea attacked. But never was there a public man who
occupied so conspicuous a station, which he renders still
more conspicuous by the perpetual exertion of his unri-
valled abilities for the public good. He, in order to raise
no obstacle to what he thinks an advantageous arrange-
ment to his country, lost all consideration of himself in the
public benefit.—(Cheers.)—Though qualified to command
as a General, sacrificing all pride and prejudice, -he serves
as a soldier in the ranks. The saying of a great conspira-
tor in a bad 'cause he has exemplified in the best.--(Hear,
hear, hear.)—He is an instance how a Statesman
may be suspected 'and calumniated, though acting from
motives of the purest patriotism.—(Lond Cheers.)--The
commonest considerations, if not of candour, at least of
justice, should have induced the Right Hon. Gentle-
man to have avoided the course on which he has this even.
ing entered. Like my Hon. and Learned Friend, I have,
I can have, nothing to hope, to fear, or to expect from this
Government. I can have no view of personal advantage.
There is hardly any sacrifice I would not make to remove
the obstructions that impede the progress of my principles.
It is no small good to have removed from the King's Coun-
cils that r arrow minded, higotted part of the late Adminis-
tration, who, perhaps, et,,)-years back, might have been
highly esteemed, but who were no wise adapted to the
century in which we live.—(Cheers).—Their resignation
leaving us nothing to regret.—(Cheers.)—For a long time
they have weighed heavily on the best interests of the people,
while they clogged the superior intellect of their Colleagues,
and prevented their advance in conformity with the state of
public opinion. Thank God, the Administration is now
purged of that dross.—(A laugh.)—His-present situation
may raise important reflections in the mind of the King
himself. When he sees how he is supported by the people
against the faction that sought to enthral him,—(Cheers,)
he will perceive how much safer and more secure, as well
as more honourable and glorious, it is for a King of England
to have.his power founded on the hearts of his people rather
than have its basis composed of factions.—(Loud cheers,
and cries of " Order.")—l cannot refrain from noticing
some phrases which are reported to have come out of the
mouths of those who have lately done the public the favour
to resign their offices.—(A laugh. )—These phrases are so
singular and extraordinary, that it is impossible to pass
them by.wholly without comment. The parties to whom
I allude have found out that that portion of the Press,
which is influenced by the Administration of the day, is a
foul and calumnious Press.—(Hear, hear.)—lt is now-
heaping abuse on them whom it long basely flattered. But
while it only operated against their opponents, net a word
of complaint was ever heard to pass their lips. As to the
'Right' Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Peel) who has, on this occa-
sion, thought it necessary to secede from the Administra-
tion,
I am bound to say that his language has been, on all
occasions, distinguished by a candour and a. sincerity which
leaves him free from all reproach 'upon this subject—a can-
dour and a manliness which those who call themselves of
the same party have, happily, I would say, for the country,
not had the discretion—l might almost add the decency—
to imitate--(hear, hear, hear); hut what, I might add,
can satisfy the malice of disappointed ambition—(Hear,
hear) ? What language can express the feelings, the
fury, of narrow-minded bigotry, or of the virulence of
faction—(Heer, hear, hear) ?—For I would say, without
fear of contradiction from any Member upon either side,
that, during the whole of the time I have had the honour
of a seat in this House, there never has existed a more
factious Opposition than that which we now see arrayed
against the Government.—(Loud cheers.)—[Mr. Peel, we
believe, was here observed to laugh.] The Right Hon.
Gentleman laughs, and thinks, I dare say, that I am stating
a most monstrous proposition, and thinks, perhaps, that
he could state some things which would prove those who
formerly occupied that station to be entitled to an appella-
tion of quite as much discredit. I would challenge him,
however, to chew a single act of that Opposition which
was not, as far as related to the late Government, in this
Mese, perfectly disinterested. I defy him to shew that
any party in this House ever acted upon principles more
purely disinterested towards any Government, than those
who lately occupied that situation. That Opposition
supported the Government in its attempt to introduce
those liberal principles of policy for which it has re-
ceived so much credit in the country. It upheld it with
that House and with tire country, when it was in danger
of being dragged back in its course by that weight from which
it is now happily freed, and prevented it from standing ill
with' the country from its being connected with those who
were hostile to the progress of all national improvement,
and whose separation From that Government, I may-say,
without fear of contradiction, has, in the eyes of the people
of this country, and of Ireland, freed it from a weight which
retarded its advance—which oppressed its energies, and
frustrated its best endeavours for the advantage of mankind.
--(Cheers.)—My Right 'Hon. Friend (Mr. Canning) has
been accused, among other things, of an overweening
ambition. That accusation, even if true, is not of any ac-
count at all ; but he has been accused also of having abused
the rights and privileges which his high situation afforded
him, of injuring the reputation of his colleagues, and of
furtively and basely pouring a leprous distilment into the
ears of the King.—(Hear, hear.)—No man, however, of
common candour or common honesty, who had listened to
the plain and manly statement of the Right Hon. Gentleman,
could give credit tosuch an accusation. If to fulfil the slight-
est wishes of his Sovereign with respect to the constrction
of 14s Government, to give immediate obedience to his com-
mands, and to offer his honest advice with regard to the
course which prudence required him to adopt, be to betray
the interests of his Colleagues, then I would say that the
accusation may he true ; but I can hardly think there are
many men in this House who consider the application of
such an expression to the Right Hon. Gentleman's conduct
on this occasion to he in the slightest degree justifiable.—
(Cheers.)--[Mr. Peel here observed, that he had used no
such language, nor made any such observation.]_l (con-
tinued Sir Francis) am not now alludiag to the Right
Hon. Gentleman ; I did nut say that he had done so ; but
the Right Hon. Gentleman always seems to think that
he only is spOken of—(Cheers)—that he only is the
person against whom the observations upon these trans-
actions can be addressed.—(Cheers and laughter.) The
Right Hon. Gentleman, with all the modesty °Ms cha-
sectee, did not. when he had occasien to address his
statement to the liouse, iorget to mention his services.
___(Laughter, and hear, hear.) But the Right Hon.
Gentleman ought to recollect that there may be some-
thing else worth noticing; and he ought to feel, that
whee I speak of such things as these I cannot allude
to the Fr:;lit Hon. Genticiman, but to the squad.—(Cheers
and laughter.)—lf some individuals made charges utterly
unfair, and grossly false and unfounded, I may be permitted
to allude to them, without being-supposed to reflect upon
him ; while I say, at the same time, that those charges,
and the violence and acerbity of feeling they display, atlord
the highest gratification to me, as displaying a strong con-
firmation of the propriety of their exclusion,- and of the