Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/276

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260
THE DIVISION.

as the present. If Sir Robert Peel would give them effect, he might safely despise the menace which had been uttered of overturning any ministry that would act in respect to the Corn Laws as the present ministers had done.

The house divided at half-past two o'clock, on Saturday morning, and the numbers were;—

For the amendment, 360
Against it, 269
Majority against ministers, 91

On Monday, August 30th, Lord M. Hill appeared at the bar of the House of Commons, and said that her Majesty had been waited upon, pursuant to the resolution of that honourable house, and he was desired by her Majesty to read to the house the following most gracious answer to the address of her faithful Commons:— "It is the greatest satisfaction to me to find that the House of Commons are deeply sensible of the importance of those considerations to which I directed their attention, in reference to the commerce and revenue of the country, and the laws which regulate the trade in corn, and that, in deciding on the course which it may be desirable to pursue, it will be their earnest desire to consult the welfare of all classes of her Majesty's subjects. Ever anxious to listen to the advice of my Parliament, I will take immediate measures for the formation of a new administraton."

At a few minutes past five o'clock, Lord John Russell rose to address the house, which was then extremely crowded, and the most profound silence instantly prevailed. The noble lord, who appeared much affected, and was at times nearly inaudible in the gallery, said:— "I have now, sir, to state to the house, that, after the division on Friday night, her Majesty's ministers have felt it their duty at once to advise the answer which has just been read to the house, and humbly to tender their resignations to her Majesty, and to enable her Majesty to form a new