THE GREAT REFORM BILL OF

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4008, 14 July 1931, Page 6

THE GREAT REFORM BILL OF

1831. Scotland and Ireland would gain five each; England and Wales would now lose 41 instead of 70. Gascoyne then moved that the number of members for England and Wales should not be reduced. Alihorp said the amendment would he fatal, for the Government would not agree either to abandon tho increases for Scotland and Ireland or to create an unwieldy House. Two nights of hard hitting followed. Sadler accused Ministers of partiality in tho distribution of seats; whereupon Alt Horn remarked that, if Sadler meant "hat lie said, lie did not envy him his mind. Stanley said the amendment had been concocted in deadly hostility to the Bill, and Peel made a “speech of victory. Feeling ran high; the Attorney-General was shouted down. Russell closed tho debate in a speech which contained a hint of dissolution. About 4.30 a.in. (Wednesday) came tho division. Tho Government were beaten by eight (299-291). The weary men streamed out of the “stifling, roaring House,” reeking with spent candles, into the cleansing freshness of tho new day. One of them turned aside to Westminster Bridge. There he could he alone, and there he might take a few “pensive turns.” Tho morning had a beauty both tranquil and aloof. The sloping beams of the young sun lighted up the j leafage of the Abbey trees and the casements of the Speaker’s house. Mist trailed about the river and upon the barges lazily swaving on the tide; but eastwards St. Paul’s" and all tho city spires soared into a clear heaven. Peace was in this scene, and here were other values. Healed, perhaps chastened, in spirit, Jeffrey turned away. To-morrow lie would he plunged again into “the littleness and vanity of these great contentions.” Not long before, Jeffrey had mot Wordsworth. They had talked far into the night. Was it the poet who sent the critic to W estniiuster Bridge at sunrise? The Dissolution. Within a few hours of their defeat the Cabinet advised a dissolution. The King’s answer was promised for Thursday. Rumours flew. On Thursday Althorp was questioned in the House. The Bill, he said, was dropped; as to dissolution, his lips were scaled. Iho Ministerial game was obvious; perhaps it could be spoiled. In the Lords, Wbarncliffe gave notice that on Friday he would move an Address to the Crown against dissolution. In the Commons, an angry debate was kept up till 1 a.in., and Althorp was foiled in his attempt to secure the Ordnance Estimates. That night Grey dined with Lord Durham. A message came to him from Althorp urging that dissolution should he immediate. Then and there Grey wrote to the King. But already the King had waived his objections. “Noble and generous conduct,” wrote tho grateful Minister to his Sovereign. “The King has behaved like an angel,” wrote . the correspondent- of Princess Lieven. Friday was a, day of drama. The Opposition had still a card to play. Usage entitled the Lords to complete the business in hand before admitting the Commissioners of the Crown. The one way of trumping this card was for the King to dissolve Parliament himself, and to do it before Wbarncliffe had got in his blow. But would he? At. 11.30 Grey and Brougham wore at the Palace. Ihe King was annoyed that anyone_should tiw to impede the exercise of his preiogatL e. Certainly he would go. Ho would go at once. The startled Master of the Horse objected that there would not be time to'plait tho horses’ manes. “Then I’ll go in a hackney coach,” said tho King. When the Life Guards arrived to escort him His Majesty was gone. Never, perhaps, did Parliament mirror more faithfully the perturbations of the public mind than on day. After so many words—reality undisguised, at last. Men’ and things, so long dominant, felt their dominion slipping. Men and things, so long repressed, felt the assurance of approaching power. All the confused reasonings and emotions, which had divided every parish in the land, now clashed in furious discord within the compass of these two Chambers. In both, passion swept to the edge of chaos, and then, obedient to the profoundest political instincts, steadied. The King’s Arrival. In the House of Commons the Speaker took the chair at 2.30, his robes of State presaging events. Instant!}' the House was crowded. Yyvyan, an ultra-Tory with a Protestant twist, sprayed an agitated audience with inflammatory rhetoric. He was contending with clamour when suddenly the boom of a great gun “resounded through the House.” The King had left the Palace! Again and again the Whigs cheered as successive discharges punctuated “the orator’s solemn sentences.” At last he gave up, and Peel, Althorp and Burdett were on feet together. It was a wild scene. “ the floor of the House was covered with members ; half the House left their seats, and the Opposition seemed perfectly frantic. William Bnnkcs looked as if his lace would burst with blood; Peel stormed; the Speaker was equally furious; Lord Althorp stood silent and quite unmoved. At last Peel was suffered to proceed. For tho first and last time in his life he spoke wild and whirling words. He was still haranguing when Black Rod was seen at the bar. Ho came to summon “this honourable House” to the House of Lords, there “to hear His Majesty’s speech lor tho prorogation of Parliament.” As they broke up, Tlardinge called to Hohhouse, “Next time you hear those guns they will bo shotted.” . . The Lords took their full share in tins “scene of bellowing and roaring and gnashing of teeth. ’ No sooner did Wharncliffe open his month than Richmond (Postmaster-General) invoked one. I Standing Order after another with the object of wrecking his speech. Great disorder ensued. Londonderry “rose, routed, gesticulated,” brandished his whip, and had to be held down. At length there was a shout of “The King, the King!” Tho great doors were thrown open; the King entered, his crown awry, and mounted the throne “with a him step.” Beside him was “the tall, grim fi.-nro of Lord Grey with the sword ot State in his hand.” There was a pause. Then arrived the Speaker, followed by about a hundred of the Commons, “who rushed in tumultuously.” The King read his speech, and the first Parliament ot King William TV was at an end. The appeal was now to Caesar : C ae«»r was nothing loath.