CHAPTER XVI.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

Opening of 1843--Assassination of Drummond--The _Quarterly_ on the League--Scene between Peel and Cobden--Mr. Villiers's Annual Motion--Peel's Free Trade Admissions--Progress of the League Agitation--Activity of its Press--Important Accessions--Invasion of the County Constituencies--The Free Traders in Parliament--Disraeli attacks Peel--Lord John Russell's Attitude--Debate on Mr. Villiers's Motion--Mr. Goulburn's Budget--The Sugar Duties--Defeat of the Government--Peel obtains a Reconsideration of the Vote--Disraeli's Sarcasms--The Anti-League League--Supposed Decline of Cobdenism--The Session of 1845--The Budget--Breach between Peel and his Party--The Potato Disease--The Cabinet Council--Memorandum of November 6--Dissent of Peel's Colleagues--Peel's Explanation of his Motives--Lord Stanley's Expostulation--Announcement in the _Times_--The Edinburgh Letter--Resignation of the Ministry--Russell fails to form a Government--Return of Peel--Parliament meets--Debates on the Queens Speech--Peel's general Statement--Mr. Bright's Eulogium--The Corn Bill passes the Commons and the Lords--Defeat of Sir Robert Peel--Some scattered Facts of his Administration 505