112 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1807- mentary reform. It was against the custom, if not the law, of the House of Commons to receive printed petitions, and the rejection of this one was proposed by ministers on that account. This was resisted, and a division taken. Only those who were determined to support the cause under any condi- tions were likely to vote, and it is not surprising that only eleven members, exclusive of the tellers, were recorded in favour of receiving the petition.* The new session opened on the 4th of November, and by that time the prospects of the war had become still brighter. News of victory after victory continued to arrive, the whole country was in a state of enthu- siasm, and there was an almost unanimous determination to let nothing interfere with the work of the Administration in carrying on the war. With this view the Houses adjourned on the 26th of December to the 1st of the following March. By the time Parliament met again in March, 1814, the great drama on the Continent was nearly played out, and the leading actor forced for a time from the stage. Wellington had driven Soult far into the interior of France, and Blucher and the allies had so outnumbered and surrounded Bona- parte that he was unable, in spite of all his ability and energy, to preserve his capital. On the 3Oth of March Paris capitu- lated. On the following day the Emperor and the King of Prussia entered that city ; and on the 4th of April Bonaparte signed an act of abdication. By the 3Oth of May the Treaty of Vienna was signed, which restored the Bourbons to France, consigned Bonaparte to Elba, and, as it was hoped and believed, gave peace to Europe. Whilst this belief was still unbroken, the English Parliament began to consider subjects of domestic policy. Among other things ministers brought in an Alien Act, which, under the pretence of amending, really
- The following are the names of the minority who adhered to their prin-
ciples under the discouraging influences of the new Parliament : Atherley, A. Moore, P. Whitbread Brand, T. Ossulton, Lord Bennett, H. Rancliffe, Lord Burdett, Sir F. > Combe, H. C. Tavistock, Marquis Smith, J. 3 Gaskell, B. Western, C. C.
