CHAPTER IX.

REIGN OF WILLIAM IV. (_continued_).

The Coronation--Fears of Eminent Men--The Cholera--The Waverers--Lord John Russell introduces the third Reform Bill--Its Progress through the Commons--The Second Reading carried in the Lords--Behind the Scenes--Feeling in the Country--Disfranchisement Clauses postponed--Grey resigns--Ebrington's Resolution--Wellington attempts to form a Ministry--Popular fury--The Run on the Bank--Wellington abandons his post--Grey exacts the King's Consent to the creation of Peers--The Opposition withdrawn--The Bill becomes Law--The Irish Reform Bill--The Bill in the Lords--The Scottish Reform Bill--Becomes Law--Result of the Reform Bills--Mr. Stanley in Ireland--The Tithe-proctor--The Church Cess--Tithe Legislation of 1831--Irish Education--Wyse's Report--Stanley's Bill--Its Provisions for Religious Instruction--General Election--New Parliament--The Coercion Bill--The Church Temporalities Bill--The Poor Law Commission--Its Report--Sketch of the Poor Law System--Provisions of the Poor Law Amendment Act--History of the Emancipation Movement--Mr. Stanley's Resolutions--Provisions of the Act of Emancipation--The Dorsetshire Labourers--The Copenhagen Fields Meeting--Other Meetings and Strikes--Sheil and Lord Althorp--O'Connell's Motion on the Union--Baron Smith--Littleton's Tithe Bill--Mr. Ward's Motion--Resignation of Mr. Stanley and his Friends--An Indiscreet Speech of the King's--The Debate on Mr. Ward's Motion--Final Collapse of the Cabinet--Retrospect of Lord Grey's Ministry 343