Sir Robert Peel returns to Office--Death of Lord Wharncliffe--Tory View of the Whig Failure--Views of Sir Robert Peel and his Colleagues--Favourable Position of the Cabinet--Lord Howick's Statement--Lord John defended by his Friends--The Letters of Junius--True Causes of the Whig Failure--The Corn Law Measure under consideration--A Vindication of Peel--Irritation of the Duke of Wellington and the Tories--Lord Melbourne's Vehemence--Lord Granville--Lord Bessborough in favour of Coercive Measures in Ireland--Consequences of Lord John's Letter on Corn Law Repeal--The Peelite Party--Sir Robert's Peel's Speech--Disclosure of Sir Robert Peel's Measure--Lord John's View of it--Sir James Graham's View--The Movement for immediate Repeal--The League press for immediate Repeal--Lord John's Engagement--Hesitation on the subject of immediate Repeal--Lord Stanley's growing Opposition--Mr. Sidney Herbert's Views and Conduct--More moderate Counsels--Approaching Fate of the Peel Ministry--No Dissolution--Inconsistency of Ministers--The Westminster Election--Lord Stanley heads the Protectionist Opposition--Lord John Russell's Inconsistency--Mr. Disraeli leads the Protectionists in the Commons--The Conquest of the Punjaub--Division on the Corn Bill--Lord George Bentinck's Speech--Lord Hardinge blamed _page_ 334 CHAPTER XXI. Signs of the Weakness of Government--The Irish Coercion Bill--Lord John Russell on Ireland--Protectionist Opposition--The Oregon Question--Lord Brougham canvassed--Weakness of the Protectionists--Embarrassments of the Government--Violence of the Protectionists--The Victories in India--Change of Opinion amongst the Farmers--State of Ireland--Intentions of the Government--Lord Palmerston visits Paris--A Scheme of Alliance with the Protectionists--Lord John Russell's Resolution--Lord Stanley's Violence--The Duke of Wellington's Dissatisfaction--Anecdote of the Father of Sir Robert Peel--Sir Robert Peel and Disraeli--Lord Palmerston in Paris--Irish Coercion Bill--The Protectionist Alliance--Conversation with Sir Robert Peel--Conversation with Sir James Graham--The Factory Bill--The last Debate in the Commons on the Corn Bill--Intrigues with the Protectionists--Defeated by Lord John Russell--Meeting at Lansdowne House--Fine Speech of Lord Stanley--'Alarm' wins the Emperor's Cup--Violent Attacks on Sir Robert Peel--The Conduct of Sir Robert Peel to Mr. Canning--Brougham and Stanley in the Lords--Opposition of the Whigs to the Coercion Bill--Anxiety of Lord John Russell to get back to Office--Mr. Disraeli renews the Attack on Peel--Lord George Bentinck and Disraeli worsted by Peel 374 CHAPTER XXII.