Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/239

1832.] Canning 's Premiership to Passing of Reform Act. 225 that they justly appreciate the full advantage of that happy form of government under which, through the favour of Divine Providence, this country has enjoyed for a long succession of years a greater share of internal peace, of commercial prosperity, of true liberty, of all that constitutes social happi- ness, than has fallen to the lot of any other country of the world." This statement was soon challenged. Even before the address was moved, Brougham gave notice that he would submit a distinct proposition for a change in the representa- tion. In the Lords, in the debate on the address, Earl Grey, referring to France and Belgium, said, " We ought to learn wisdom from what was passing before our eyes ; and when the spirit of liberty was breaking out all around, it was our first duty to secure our own institutions by introducing into them a temperate reform. He felt persuaded that, unless we did so, we must make up our minds to witness the destruction of the Constitution. He had been a reformer all his life, and at no period had he been inclined to go farther than he would be prepared to go now if the opportunity were offered." This was a plain and a bold declaration, and it was answered by one equally as bold and far more extraordinary. The Duke of Wellington replied in a speech which has become historical, and which, alike from its tone and the time when it was spoken, could not but be taken as a defiance of the unmistak- able wish of the bulk of the nation. He praised the existing state of the representation as being absolutely perfect, and as possessing the full and'entire confidence of the country. Then, in conclusion, he said, " The representation of the people at present contains a large body of the property of the country in which the landed interests have a preponderating influence. Under these circumstances, I am not prepared to bring forward any measure of the description alluded to by the noble lord. I am not only not prepared to bring forward any measure of this nature, but I will at once declare, that as far as I am concerned, as long as I hold any station in the Government of the country, I shall always feel it my duty to resist such measures when proposed by others." Q