THE OPPOSITION
The great speech on the Opposition side was that of Sir James Graham: elaborate, malignant, mischievous. His position was this: that Lord Derby, as a man of honour, was bound to propose taxes on food, and that if he did so, revolution was inevitable.
Mr Gladstone and Lord Palmerston both spoke in the same vein, the necessity of immediate Dissolution after the passing of the "necessary" measures; but the question soon arose, What is "necessary"?
Lord Palmerston thought the Militia Bill "necessary," upon which the League26 immediately rose and denied that conclusion.
There seemed in the House a great reluctance to avoid a violent course, but a very general wish, on the Opposition side, for as speedy a Dissolution as public necessity would permit.
The evening, however, was not disadvantageous to the Government. All which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty, by your Majesty's most dutiful Subject and Servant,
B. Disraeli.
Footnote 26: The members belonging to the Manchester School of Politics.
Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
THE QUESTION OF DISSOLUTION