Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/237

1832.] Cannings Premiership to Passing of Reform Act. 223 ance impossible. What he could do, and what he did, was to make the lives of his ministers unhappy, by the constant necessity of persuading or coercing him into the performance of the duties of his position. The most that could be said about his influence on actual affairs was that his death re- moved one reason for maintaining the Ministry in power, the determination and firmness of Wellington being no longer required to direct and control his nominal sovereign. There was a general belief, soon to be confirmed by events, that the death of the King would lead to the death of the Government. The Whigs at once determined to make an end of the half-alliance, which, as it had led to no division of power or office, they were not likely to prolong. Declaration of war was made forthwith. The new King sent a message, which recommended Parliament to make such temporary provisions as might be requisite for the public service in the interval that would elapse before a new Parliament could be elected. There was in this advice a serious mistake, which might have resulted in grave national difficulties. The King, although in good health, was an old man, and the heir to the throne, the Princess Victoria, was a minor. That a Regency Bill should have been introduced before the dissolution was most desirable. How great the danger really was few people at the time understood ; certainly the nation at large did not know, until Hume, many years after, discovered and exposed what may well be called the Orange Conspiracy, with which the Duke of Cumberland, the person next in succession to the throne, was mixed up. All could see, however, that the course taken by ministers was imprudent, and the opposition made their objection to it the occasion of breaking up what agreement had before existed. The attempt to prolong the session to deal with the question was, however, defeated in both Houses, and on the 24th of July Parliament was dis- solved. Although the Whigs had endeavoured to postpone the dis- solution, yet the time chosen for the election was especially auspicious for the cause of Liberalism. The agitation organized