Chapter 12

Sir Robert Peel becomes Prime-minister.--Commercial Reforms.--Free-trade.--Religious Toleration.--Maynooth.--The Queen's University.--Post-office Regulations.--The Opening of Letters.-- Naturalization of Aliens.--Recall of Lord Ellenborough.--Reversal of the Vote on the Sugar Duties.--Refusal of the Crown to Sanction a Bill.--The Question of Increase in the Number of Spiritual Peers.--Repeal of the Corn-laws.--Revolution in France, and Agitation on the Continent.--Death of Sir Robert Peel.--Indifference of the Country to Reform.--Repeal of the Navigation Laws.--Resolutions in Favor of Free-trade.--The Great Exhibition of 1851.