There was a common rumour in the world, that at the great Crisis of the Reform Bill, when all the agents and organs of the Tory party were engaged in abusing the Earl of Harrowby and Lord Wharncliffe as waverers, they were told, when they wished to go on with the Reform 1087 Bill, that if they would not consent to strike out Schedule A, or postpone it, the party would not go down to vote.

In the Crisis of the Reform Bill, when it was thought to be the less of two evils to make a large addition to the numbers of this House for the purpose of carrying a measure of vital importance, Lord Grey and Lord Brougham never supposed that they could resort to the creation of Peers for life, although this expedient would greatly have facilitated the coup d'état which they had in contemplation.

I take the ten years from 1832, the Crisis of the Reform Bill, down to 1841, during which our commercial legislation was, upon the whole, stationary; and I take the twelve years from 1842 to 1853, within the circuit of which are comprehended the beneficial changes that Parliament has made.