CHAPTER XXV.

Panic in the Money Market--The Bank Act--Sir Robert Peel's Authority--Suspension of the Banking Act of 1844--Death of the Archbishop of York--Meeting of Parliament--Irish Coercion Bill--Opinion of the Lord-Lieutenant--Weakness of the Irish Measures--Sir Robert Peel on the Bank Charter Act--The Duke of Wellington on the Defences of the Country--English Catholic Affairs at Rome--Illness of Lord Chancellor Cottenham--Bishop Hampden's Appointment'--Chloroform--Lamartine's 'Girondins'--The Hampden Dispute--Death of Lord Harrowby--Taxation--Leadership of the Opposition--The Hampden War--Scenes in Spain--Visit to Lord Melbourne--Lord Melbourne at Windsor--Burnham Beeches--Letter to Cobden--Leadership of the Opposition--Views of Sir James Graham on the Colonies--Archbishop Sumner--Baron Alderson--Diplomatic Relations with Rome--Weakness of the Government--Bad Effects of Lord John's Speech 99