Richmond was chairman, and which had been established to counteract the proceedings of the Manchester confederation. It was in communication with the local protection societies throughout the country ; and although the adhesion to its service by the parliamentary members of the old conservative party had been more limited than might have been expected, nevertheless many county members were enrolled in its ranks, and a few of the most eminent were actively engaged in its management. In this they were assisted by an equal number of the most considerable tenantfarmers. In the present state of affairs, the council of the protection society afforded the earliest and readiest means to collect opinion and methodise action and it was therefore resolved among its managers to invite all members of parliament, who sympathized with their purpose though they might not be members of their society, to attend their meeting and aid them at the present crisis with their counsel.

A compliance with this request occasioned the first public appearance of Lord George Bentinck as one of the organizers of a political party; for he aspired to no more. The question was, whether a third political party could be created and sustained; a result at all times and under any circumstances difficult to achieve, and which had failed even under the auspices of accomplished and experienced statesmen. In the present emergency, was there that degree of outraged

public feeling in the country, which would overcome all obstacles and submit to any inconveniences in order to insure its representation in the house of commons? It was the opinion of Lord George Bentinck that such was the case; that if for the moment that feeling was inert and latent, it was an apathy which arose from the sudden shock of public confidence, and the despair which under such circumstances takes possession of men; that if it could be shown to the country, that the great bulk of the conservative party were true to their faith, and were not afraid, even against the fearful odds which they would have to encounter, to proclaim it, the confidence and the courage of the country would rally, and the party in the house of commons would find external sympathy and support.

With these views it became of paramount importance that the discussion on the government measure should be sustained on the part of the protectionists with their utmost powers. They must prove to the country, that they could represent their cause in debate, and to this end all their energies must be directed. It would be fatal to them if the discussion were confined to one or two nights, and they overborne by the leading and habitual speakers. They must bring forward new men; they must encourage the efforts of those now unrecognized and comparatively unknown; they must overcome all reserve and false shame, and

act as became men called upon to a critical and leading part not by their arrogance or ambition but by the desertion and treachery of those to whose abilities they had bowed without impatience and reluctance. There was a probability of several vacancies immediately taking place in counties where the seats were filled by converts, but men of too scrupulous an honour to retain the charge which they had sought and accepted as the professors of opinions contrary to those which now received their mournful adhesion. The result of these elections would greatly depend upon the spirit and figure of the party in the house of commons in their first encounter with the enemy.

These views, so just and so spirited, advanced with high-bred earnestness by one rarely met in political turmoils and enforced with a freshness and an affable simplicity which were very winning, wonderfully encouraged those to whom they were addressed. All seemed touched by the flame which burnt in the breast of that man so lofty in his thoughts but so humble in his ambition, who counselled ever the highest deeds and was himself ever prepared to undertake the humblest duties

The business of this day was notable. Calculations were made of those who might be fairly counted on to take a part in debate; some discussion even ensued as to who should venture to reply late at night to the minister; a committee was appointed to communicate

with all members on either side supposed to be favourable to the principle of protection to the labour of the country; a parliamentary staff was organised not only to secure the attendance of members but to guard over the elections; finally, the form of the amendment to the government measure was discussed and settled, and it was agreed that if possible it should be moved by Mr. Philip Miles, the member for the city of Bristol, and who had the ear of the house not merely from the importance of his constituency, and seconded by Sir William Heathcote, the member for the county of Hampshire, a country gentleman of great accomplishments, and so highly considered by both sides that he was very generally spoken of as a probable successor to the chair.

All was furnished by this lately forlorn party except a leader, and even then many eyes were turned and some hopeful murmurs addressed towards Lord George Bentinck, who in the course of this morning had given such various proofs of his fitness and such evidence of his resource. But he shook his head with a sort of suppressed smile, a faint blush, and an air of proud humility that was natural to him: "I think," he said, "we have had enough of leaders; it is not in my way; I shall remain the last of the rank and file."

During the interval between the statement of the minister and the commencement of the great engagement, Lord Ashley and his colleague, Mr. Sturt,

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vacated their seats for the county of Dorset; Mr. Charteris, the member for Gloucestershire, in deference to the remonstrance of his constituents, accepted the Chiltern hundreds; while the county of Nottingham, the native county of the Bentincks, was vacated by Lord Lincoln, a member of the cabinet, who had been promoted from the woods and forests to the chief secretaryship of the lord lieutenant, and who, while accepting this superior office, had expressed his determination again to solicit the confidence of his late constituents.

The importance of carrying all these seats, and especially at this juncture of defeating a cabinet minister, in whose instance however success was supposed to be most problematical, was deeply felt by Lord George, and there was no effort that he spared to achieve his end. It was calculated that if the debate could be kept up for a week, that is, in parliamentary time, four days, the new members for Dorsetshire, where a contest was not anticipated, might take their seats in time to record their votes.

The 9th of February at last arrived. The house was very full. The order of the day for the house going into committee on the "customs-corn laws " was read, and Mr. Philip Miles rose to move as an amendment, that the house should go into committee that day six months. He delivered a well