1846.] Sir Robert PeePs Administration. 349 The work was done ; it was accomplished at the cost of the disruption of an ancient party, and the destruction of the power of a great statesman. With Peel, patriotism and a sense of public duty were stronger than the bonds of party ; with the protectionists, rage at the loss of vested interests, and hatred of the chief who had deserted their cause, overcame all other feelings. It was known that the Ministry could not long survive the passing of the Act to which they had sacrificed their party. On the very night when the House of Lords passed the Corn Law Bill, the Government were defeated and overthrown by a division in the Commons. In the beginning of the session they had introduced in the Peers a bill for the protection of life in Ireland, which was read a second time on the 24th of February, and afterwards passed. It was introduced into the House of Commons on the 3Oth of March, and was met by a determined opposition' which delayed its progress, and it was not until the 9th of June that it came up for the second reading. Then the protectionists opposed it as a mark of want of confidence in the Ministry, and, after a debate which was frequently adjourned, it was, on the 26th, defeated by a majority of seventy-three, the numbers being for, 219; against, 292. On the following night Wellington in one House and Peel in the other, announced the resignation of the Ministry. The speech in which Peel took his farewell of office was an eloquent vindication of his motives and his conduct, and his closing words cannot be too often quoted. " I shall leave a name," he said, " severely censured by many who, on public grounds, deeply regret the severance of party ties ; deeply regret that severance, not from interested or personal motives, but from the firm conviction that fidelity to party engagements the existence and maintenance of a great party constitutes a powerful instrument of government. I shall surrender power severely censured also by others who, from no interested motive, adhere to the principle of protection, considering the maintenance of it to be essential to the welfare and interests of the country. I shall leave a name execrated by every
