1834-] The First Reformed Parliament. 251 the motion some reconstruction of the Cabinet must follow. Russell, who had accepted the principle of appropriation, would without doubt vote against Stanley, who repudiated it. The uncertainty was not dispelled until the eventful 2/th, and until the leader entered the House he was not informed of the decision come to by some of his colleagues. Ward had risen to propose his resolution,* when Althorpe intervened to request the House to adjourn, in consequence of circumstances which had come to his knowledge since he entered. The adjournment was agreed to, and it was soon known that the circumstances referred to by Althorpe were the resignations of four members of the Cabinet Richmond, Ripon, Graham, and Stanley. It had been all along understood that neither of these ministers would assent to the proposition made by Ward, and it was feared that their secession might lead to the entire disruption of the Administration. A compromise had been proposed by Brougham, in the appointment of a commission to inquire into the state of the Irish Church, and report on the relation between the provision it made and the requirements it had to meet, and the cost of its maintenance. Such a compromise was, however, quite unacceptable to Stanley and his friends, since it would commit them to the very action they opposed if the inquiry resulted in the manner which seemed inevitable. They therefore persisted in retiring, and their places in the Cabinet were filled up by Lords Carlisle, Conyngham, and Auckland, and Mr. Spring Rice. By the 2nd of June, the date to which the adjournment was made, the changes had been completed, and the Ministry were united on the policy which they were prepared to submit. They were, although united, weakened on one side of -their supporters without having gained strength on the other. The compromise which had failed to conciliate Stanley and Graham did not commend itself to Ward and Grote. When Althorpe announced the reconstruction of the Cabinet, he
- The speeches of Ward in moving, and of Grote in seconding, the resolution
were reported, but Mrs. Grote says they were never really delivered (" Personal Life of George Grote," p. 90.)
