John defended the acts of the Ministry, and denied that they had been guilty of harshness to the poor by the New Poor Law, or enemies of the Church by reducing “the archbishop of Canterbury to the miserable pittance of L15,000 a year, cutting down the bishop of London to no more than L10,000 a year, and the bishop of Durham to the wretched stipend of L8,000 a year!” He twitted peel for his reticence upon the Corn Laws, and denounced the possibility of a sliding scale of duties upon corn.  He concluded by saying, “I am convinced that, if this country be governed by enlarged and liberal counsels, its power and might will spread and increase, and its influence become greater and greater; liberal principles will prevail, civilisation will be spread to all parts of the globe, and you will bless millions by your acts and mankind by your union.”  Loud and continued cheering followed this speech, but on division the majority was against the Ministers.  When the House met to recommend the report on the amended Address, Mr. Sharman Crawford moved another amendment, to the effect that the distress of the people referred to in the queen’s Speech was mainly attributable to the non-representation of the working classes in Parliament.  He did not advocate universal suffrage, but one which would give a fair representation of the people.  From the want of this arose unjust wars, unjust legislation, unjust monopoly, of which the existing Corn Laws were the most grievous instance.  There was no danger in confiding the suffrage to the working classes, who had a vital interest in the public prosperity, and had evinced the truest zeal for freedom.

The amendment was negatived by 283 to 39.

At the next meeting of the House lord Marcus hill read the Answer to the Address, in which the queen declared that “ever anxious to listen to the advice of Parliament, she would take immediate measures for the formation of a new Administration.” [Punch and peel.] Lord Melbourne, in the House of Lords, announced on the 30th of August that he and his colleagues only held office until their successors were appointed. [Last pinch.] The House received the announcement in perfect silence, and adjourned immediately afterwards.  On the same night, in the House of Commons, lord John Russell made a similar announcement, and briefly defended the course he and his colleagues had taken, and in reply to some complimentary remarks from lord Stanley, approving of lord john’s great zeal, talent, and perseverance, denied that the Crown was answerable for any of the propositions contained in the Speech, which were the result of the advice of her majesty’s Ministers, and for which her Ministers alone were responsible.  This declaration was necessary in consequence of the accusation of the Conservatives, that the Ministry had made an unfair use of the queen’s name in and out of Parliament. [Trimming A whig.] The new Ministry [the letter of introduction] was formed as follows:—­