Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria.
Chesham Place, 16th March 1849.
Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has the honour to state that the debate last night was brought to a close.6
Mr Cobden and Mr Disraeli made very able speeches at the end of the debate.
The debate has been a remarkable one, and the division shows tolerably well the strength of parties. The Protectionists, animated by the cry of agricultural distress, are disposed to use their power to the utmost. Mr Disraeli shows himself a much abler and less passionate leader than Lord George Bentinck.
On the other hand, the friends of Sir Robert Peel and the party of Mr Cobden unite with the Government in resisting the Protectionist party. The House of Commons thus gives a majority, which, though not compact, is decided at once against the extreme Tory and the extreme Radical party. With such a House of Commons the great interests of the Throne and the Constitution are safe. An abrupt dissolution would put everything to hazard.
Footnote 6: On Mr Disraeli's motion for payment of the half of local rates by the Treasury, which was defeated by 280 to 189.
The Earl of Dalhousie to Queen Victoria.
END OF THE SIKH WAR