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THFJ DEMEANOUR OF ENGLAND. 309 mittee : wliilst others ao-ain imagined that the CHAP IX inquest perhaps might result in fierce, passionate !_ denunciations and vindictive impeachments, more likely to generate distracting troubles at home than to aid or enlighten our Government in its task of conducting the war. If the resignation of Lord Aberdeen's Govern- ment had definitely banislied from office either all or nearly all of its members, the House of Commons — then somewhat appeased — might possibly have accepted their fall as an expiation sufficiently signal to meet the real gist of its vote ; and in that case, perhaps, at the instance of a Government substantially new, might have consented to abstain from giving further effect to the order for appointing a Committee ; but — disclosing its mind at a time which preceded the secession of the four ' Peelite ' members — the House had shown an evident unwillingness to The House retrace its deliberate step at the bidding of a to rescind Government which, with only two exceptions, then comprised in it all the members of Lord Aberdeen's condemned Cabinet ; and Lord Pal- merston, perceiving this spirit, was content to deprecate gently the threatened enquiry without attempting graver resistance. (^2) The House maintained its resolve, and proceeded to ap- The com. point a Committee — a Committee of eleven pointed. ' members. This final resolve of the House seemed likely. The import -, , .-of this inea as many imagined, to prove a grave, perilous sure. crisis in English history ; and, unless men were gifted with a little of that sanguine assurance