CHAPTER XLV.
WILLIAM IV. 1835—1836
State of Parties..... General Election..... Ecclesiastical Commission..... Meeting of Parliament; Contest for the Office of Speaker..... Opening of the Session..... Discussion in the Lords regarding the Slavery Abolition Act..... Motion of the Marquis of Chandos to repeal the Malt-tax..... The Dissenters’ Marriage Act..... Ministerial Plan for the Commutation of Tithes in England..... Report of Commission regarding the Church of England, &c...... The Question of the Appropriation of the Surplus Revenues of the Irish Church..... Resignation of Ministers and the Restoration of Lord Melbourne’s Cabinet..... Municipal Reform and the Irish Church..... Agricultural Distress..... Municipal Corporations..... Bill for regulating the Irish Church..... Discussion regarding Orange Societies in Ireland..... The Vote by Ballot, &c...... Motion for the Repeal of the Window-tax, &c...... The Budget..... Discussions regarding Canada..... Prorogation of Parliament..... State of the Continent
STATE OF PARTIES.
A.D. 1835
The state of the political world in this country was, at the opening of the present year, one of great interest and excitement. The dismissal of the Melbourne ministry was received by the country with undisturbed composure and perfect good-humour; but this was viewed by its members and partisans with alarm and humiliation; and, conceiving that it betokened a relaxation of power in the springs to whose action they trusted for their speedy return to office, they resolved to leave no means untried to agitate the country from one end to the other, in order to recover their waning influence. To this end the dismissal of the ministry was announced as exclusively the work of the queen, and as the result of a deep tory plot, and complicated tory intrigues. These tales, however, failed in creating the universal dismay so much desired; and then the organs of the party in opposition constantly insisted on the dreadful fate which awaited the country from the removal of the only men who had either head to conceive or courage to undertake the task of saving the public weal, and putting in their place politicians who would repeal the reform act, impose new taxes, restore and multiply pensions, establish military law, and finally produce civil war. Still the country remained quiescent: it was known that the picture was fictitious, and men refused to be dismayed. One thing, however, was effected: although the Radicals did not raise any clamorous outcries at the downfall of their former associates, they struck a bargain with the Whigs, and came to terms for the purpose of putting down a common enemy.