-the abolition of the slave trade and slavery,-the Catholic question, the reduction of expenditure,-the resistance of oppression, the extirpation of abuses,— the reformation of the law,-the limitation of the executive power. Moreover, I have uniformly adhered to one political party; and if, at the end of this long period, I have found myself under the painful necessity of separating from my former political friends, it has been, not on personal but public grounds,—it has been,-it has notoriously been,-not because I changed, but because they have changed their course. When out of the Government in 1835, I zealously supported them; in 1836, I abstained from attendance, that I might not embarrass them; in 1837, I supported them on all but one question, when their conduct was a violation of liberty. But in 1838, when they abandoned their reform principles, and carried farther than ever the unconstitutional government of the colonies,-and still more in 1839, when they have utterly forgotten the very name, as well as the nature of Whigs, and consented to stand upon a mere court intrigue-a mere bedchamber quarrel,-against Parliament and against the people, then, of course, my opposition became habitual, and I heartily desired the end of their reign. I will not deny that I desired their fall, when I saw them -with astonishment saw them-stand on the most Tory ground,-ground ever most bitterly assailed by them in their better days, for the Tories always had the decency to cover over the nakedness of their courtly propensities with some rag of public principle, and spoke of danger to the church and the other institutions, when they really meant risk of the King being thwarted, and their own power subverted. But these Whig Ministers, under my Noble Friend, stripping off all decent covering, without one rag of public principle of any kind, stand before the country stark naked, as mere courtiers, mere seekers of royal favour; and do not utter a single whisper to show that they have a single

principle in their contemplation, save the securing a continuance of their places by making themselves subservient creatures of the palace. To leave such guides, and such associates, may be very painful, from old habits and connexions; but, surely, it may become absolutely necessary to all who would not join them in leaving their former principles.* My Lords, I grieve to have so long detained you at so unseasonable an hour; and I only now recommend these resolutions to your immediate adoption.

The House then divided; when there appeared

It was stated, both by Lord Howden in the House of Lords, and Sir W. Follett in the Commons, that Lord Grey took the same view of the conduct of the Government on the bedchamber question.

PERORATION OF SPEECH

ON

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

EXTRACT SPEECH ON

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-DECEMBER 5, 1837.

BUT, my Lords, there is one alteration in this measure, this just, humane, and in my conscience I believe, most politic measure, which the Noble Lord has announced, that I confess fills me with astonishment and dismay. I mean that provision which he is to introduce for the purpose of drawing a line of distinction and protection around both Houses of Parliament, and screening their members, iniquitously, invidiously, and, to the community at large, insultingly, screening ourselves-from the operation of the law, and proclaiming that against us alone of all the people it shall be powerless. Are we indeed prepared to clothe ourselves with the proud prerogative of being law-makers and, therefore, lawbreakers of having the power to frame the law, and, by the possession of that power, contriving an enactment by which we retain in our own hands the other power of violating it with impunity-arming ourselves alone of all our fellow-subjects, with the privilege which both my Noble and Learned Friends have so justly described as the privilege not to do what every man ought to do, and what every honest man does? What, I ask my Noble Friend on the woolsack, is the avowed object of the compulsory clauses in his Bill? He has already answered me he has said that their object is to compel all to do what all honest men do already without compulsion. See then in what an odious position he is