try and the
Marquess of Northampton, in support of the amendment, and from Lord
Brougham, partly in favour of the address, and partly condemnatory of
the measures of government, their lordships divided on the original
question, when there appeared for it only ninety-six, and against it one
hundred and sixty-eight; so that ministers were left in a minority of
seventy-two.

In the commons the first business performed was the election of a
speaker, and Mr. Shaw Lefevre was re-elected by the consent of all
parties. The house then adjourned; after which several days were
consumed in swearing in members. This being done, the speaker having
read from the chair the speech delivered in the other house by the
lords-commissioners, an address was moved in consonance with it by Mr.
Mark Phillips, and seconded by Mr. John Dundas. An amendment was moved
by Mr. J. S. Wortley, which expressed the regret of the house at the
recent increase of expenditure; its determination to provide for that
increase; its earnest desire to promote the welfare of her majesty's
subjects; and respectfully to represent to her majesty the necessity
that her ministers should enjoy the confidence of the country, which the
present administration did not possess. This amendment was seconded
by Lord Bruce; and a long discussion followed, in which many members
expressed their views. The result showed that ministers were even
deserted by some of their tried friends: even Mr. Roebuck declared that
he should vote in favour of the amendment. On this occasion Mr. Cobden,
who had been elected in the new parliament, and who was destined to be
the greatest antagonist of the corn-laws that had ever appeared in the
house of commons, came forward to express his views on the subject. On
a division the amendment was carried by a majority of three hundred and
sixty, against two hundred and sixty-nine. When the house of commons
met for the purpose of receiving the report on the amended address,
Mr. Sharman Crawford proposed another amendment, to the effect that the
house would feel it their duty so to extend the suffrage as to give
to the working classes their just weight in legislation; but this was
negatived by an overwhelming majority.

RESIGNATION OF MINISTERS.--SIR ROBERT PEEL'S ADMINISTRATION.

At the next meeting of the house of commons, Lord Marcus Hill appeared
at the bar, and read this answer to the address:--"It is the greatest
satisfaction to me to find that