(_1858_)

Extravagance and exaggeration of ideas are not the essential
characteristic of either political party in this country. Both of
them are composed in the main of men with English hearts and
English feelings. Each of them comprises within itself far greater
diversities of political principles and tendencies, than can be
noted as dividing the more moderate portion of the one from the
more moderate portion of the other.... But while the great English
parties differ no more in their general outlines than by a somewhat
varied distribution of the same elements in each, they are liable
to be favourably or unfavourably affected and their essential
characteristics unduly exaggerated, by circumstances of the order
that would be termed accidental.--GLADSTONE.

The turn of the political wheel is constantly producing strange results,
but none has ever been more strikingly dramatic than when, on February
20, Bright and Milner Gibson, who had been ignominiously thrown out at
Manchester the year before, had the satisfaction of walking to the table
of the House of Commons as victorious tellers in the division on the
Conspiracy to Murder bill that overthrew Lord Palmerston. A plot to slay
the French Emperor had been organised by a band of Italian refugees in
London. The bombs were manufactured in England. Orsini's design
miscarried, but feeling in France was greatly excited, and the French
government formally drew attention at St. James's to the fact that
bodies of assassins abused our right of asylum. They hinted further that
the amity of the crown called for stronger law. Palmerston very sensibly
did not answer the French despatch, but introduced a bill with new
powers against conspiracy. He in an instant became the most unpopular
man in the country, and the idol of the year before was now hooted in
the Park.

LORD PALMERSTON DEFEATED

Mr. Gladstone was at first doubtful, but soon made up his mind. To Mrs.
Gladstone he writes (Feb. 17):--

As respects the Conspiracy bill, you may depend upon our having
plenty of fight; the result is doubtful; but if the bill gets into
the House of Lords it will pass. Lord Aberdeen is strong against
it. From him I went to-day to Lord Lyndhurst, and I found Lord
Brougham with him. A most interesting conversation followed with
these two wonderful old men