A day or two after Lord Lansdowne's explanation in the House of Lords about the Sicilian arms Bankes made another interpellation in the House of Commons, the object of which was to ask the same question that Stanley had done. But unlike his chief he made a long, rambling, stupid speech, which gave Palmerston one of those opportunities of which he never fails to avail himself with so much dexterity, and accordingly he delivered a slashing, impudent speech, full of sarcasm, jokes, and clap-traps, the whole eminently successful. He quizzed Bankes unmercifully, he expressed ultra-Liberal sentiments to please the Radicals, and he gathered shouts of laughter and applause as he dashed and rattled along. He scarcely deigned to notice _the_ question, merely saying a few words at the end of his speech in replying to it. All this did perfectly well for the House of Commons, and he got the honours of the day. Stanley was furious, and all the Anti-Palmerstonians provoked to death, while he and his friends chuckled and laughed in their sleeves. John Russell also came to his rescue, and made an apology for him, which in his mouth was very discreditable, for it was in fact inconsistent with what Lord Lansdowne had said in the House of Lords. [Footnote 92: [Mr. Greville removed at this time from the house he had occupied, No. 40, Grosvenor Place, to a suite of rooms in Lord Granville's house in Bruton Street, in which he passed the remainder of his life.]] CHAPTER XXIX. Difficult Position of the Government--A Cloud in the East--Italian Affairs--Suppression of a Despatch--Sir Charles Napier goes to India--Sir James Graham's Alarms--Lord John Russell's Position--Battle of Novara--Opposition to the Repeal of the Navigation Laws--Sir James Graham's Pusillanimity--State of France--Conflicting Views on Irish Relief--Lord John contemplates a Peerage--Interview of Lord Clarendon with Sir Robert Peel--The Navigation Bill--Maiden Speech of Sir R. Peel's second Son--An Omission of Lord Palmerston's--Lord Palmerston's Opponents--Lord Palmerston's Defence--A Trip to Scotland--Dr. Candlish's Sermon--History of the Debates on Foreign Affairs--Extension of the Suffrage--The Queen's Visit to Ireland--A Council at Balmoral--Prince Albert's Conversation--Lord Aberdeen's Views--Lord John's Defence of Lord Palmerston.