CHAPTER XX.

Sir Robert Peel returns to Office--Death of Lord Wharncliffe--Tory View of the Whig Failure--Views of Sir Robert Peel and his Colleagues--Favourable Position of the Cabinet--Lord Howick's Statement--Lord John defended by his Friends--The Letters of Junius--True Causes of the Whig Failure--The Corn Law Measure under consideration--A Vindication of Peel--Irritation of the Duke of Wellington and the Tories--Lord Melbourne's Vehemence--Lord Granville--Lord Bessborough in favour of Coercive Measures in Ireland--Consequences of Lord John's Letter on Corn Law Repeal--The Peelite Party--Sir Robert's Peel's Speech--Disclosure of Sir Robert Peel's Measure--Lord John's View of it--Sir James Graham's View--The Movement for immediate Repeal--The League press for immediate Repeal--Lord John's Engagement--Hesitation on the subject of immediate Repeal--Lord Stanley's growing Opposition--Mr. Sidney Herbert's Views and Conduct--More moderate Counsels--Approaching Fate of the Peel Ministry--No Dissolution--Inconsistency of Ministers--The Westminster Election--Lord Stanley heads the Protectionist Opposition--Lord John Russell's Inconsistency--Mr. Disraeli leads the Protectionists in the Commons--The Conquest of the Punjaub--Division on the Corn Bill--Lord George Bentinck's Speech--Lord Hardinge blamed _page_ 334