ime it is very significant. He has seen his
party--for a season excluded from power--again re-assume the reigns of
government at the call of a vast majority of the nation. He remembers
that that call was founded upon the general desire that a period of
tranquil stability should succeed to an interval of harassing
vacillation; and that the only general pledge demanded from the
representatives of the people was an adherence to certain principles of
industrial protection, well understood in the main, if not thoroughly
and accurately defined. We shall suppose a young man of this stamp
introduced into the House of Commons, deeply impressed with the full
import and extent of his responsibilities--fortified in his own opinions
by the coinciding votes and arguments of older statesmen, on whose
experience he is fairly entitled to rely--regarding the leader of his
party with feelings of pride and exultation, because he is the champion
of a cause identified with the welfare of the nation--and unsuspicious
of any change in those around him, and above. Such was, we firmly
believe, the position of many members of the present Parliament, shortly
before the opening of this session, when, on a sudden, rumours of some
intended change began to spread themselves abroad. An era of conversion
had commenced. In one and the same night, some portentous dream
descended upon the pillows of the Whig leaders, and whispered that the
hour was come. By miraculous coincidence--co-operation being studiously
disclaimed--Lord John Russell, Lord Morpeth,

"And other worthy fellows that were _out_,"

gave in their adhesion, nearly on the same day, to the League--thereby,
as we are told, anticipating the unanimous wish of their followers. Then
came, on the part of Ministers, a mysterious resignation--an episodical
and futile attempt to re-construct a Whig government--and the return of
Sir Robert Peel to power. Still there was no explanation. Men were left
to guess, as they best might, at the Eleusinian drama performing behind
the veil of Isis--to speculate for themselves, or announce to others at
random the causes of this huge mystification. "The oracles were dumb."
This only was certain, that Lord Stanley was no longer in the Cabinet.

Let us pass over the prologue of the Queen's speech, and come at once to
the announcement of his financial measures by the Minister. What need to
follow him through the circumlocutions of that speech--through the
osten