the necessity for retrenchment. Upon this, amendments were proposed from all quarters—by Mr. Bernal Osborne, Lord Robert Montagu, Mr. Horsman, Mr, Walpole, and Lord Palmerston himself; the last being declared by the newspapers nothing less than a vote of confidence in the noble Viscount's own administration. The crisis was considered so imminent that Lord Derby summoned a meeting of his followers, which was numerously attended; and loud and feverish were the presageful utterances of the party journals, and great was the rush to Westminster Palace on the eventful night. But the everlasting Pam was equal to the occasion, and with the vigour of fourscore years spent in diplomacy he seized the bull by the horns at once, and nearly sent the breath out of poor Mr. Walpole's body with the first thrust of his redoubtable arm. The Walpole amendment had been adopted with "loud cheers" at the meeting of the Derbyites; and, without waiting for Mr, Stansfeld to make his motion, the astute old Premier started up and declared, to the amazement of everybody, that he accepted the Conservative move as a challenge of party strength; he was prepared for the issue, and he
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