358 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1846- to the ranks by the success of George Thompson, at Tower Hamlets. There was still little definite organization in the party. Buncombe and Crawford retained the confidence of the Chartists;* Hume was regarded with respect by all sec- tions ; Cobden, Villiers, Bright, and Milner Gibson were looked upon as the men who commanded the confidence of the middle classes, whilst full of sympathy for the popular cause. Molesworth, of all the party, retained more completely the characteristics of what were called the Philosophical Radicals, and his great intellectual ability and deliberation made him likely to be acceptable to the most Liberal section of the Whigs. The new Parliament met on the iSth of November, the speech from the throne referring to the commercial crisis, to the distress and the prevalence of outrages in Ireland, and to the navigation laws. The business which occupied most of the time of the short session was the consideration of an Irish Coercion Bill, giving extraordinary powers to the lord-
- The manner in which Duncombe was regarded at this time by the Chartists
may be seen from the following letter, written by O'Connor on his election for Nottingham : " Paradise, Sunday. "BELOVED GENERAL, " In discharge of my first and far most pleasing duty, I called at head-quarters, Spring-gardens, on my arrival, to report myself, but was told you were not in town. I now perform my duty by letter, and beg to assure you that no monarch on earth ever had a more devoted subject, and no general a more obedient soldier. It will not be my fault if you are not the first man in your country. My terms are, that upon Irish questions I shall be free to act as I please; in all else follow you, but no other man. I will propose no national question of which you are the proper, the acknowledged, the loved leader ; nor shall adversity or prosperity ever banish from my recollection the boldness of my friend who visited me in my dungeon. My service is not like that of any other man when I give it ; life itself is offered, if needed. " Ever and ever, your fond, affectionate, and devoted friend, "FEARGUS O'CONNOR. "It would be morally impossible to describe the state of Nottingham. Lord Rancliffe, the two principal bankers, and most of the clergy, voted for me and asked me to dine ; and Smith, the banker, was chaired with us. "Yours, "F. O'C." Life and Correspondence of T. S. Duncombe, vol. i. p. 373.
