356 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1846- extent the old party lines had been confused and party bonds loosened. It was the Conservative party which was most affected by this influence, and a new title had to be created by which for the time to designate those who had broken with the Tories without joining the Liberals. The name of the leader of the secessionists was chosen as that of the party, and the Peelites were entered in the returns and tabular statements of the time, in a column distinct from the Con- servatives and the Liberals. The distinction could not be drawn very clearly, and some of the politicians of the day declined to accept any calculation of the relative strength of parties, either as regarded their allegiance to organizations or their adhesion to defined principles. The editor of the Spectator having been asked to classify the members of the new House, refused to do so, declaring that it was impossible to draw any distinct or arbitrary line.* The estimate generally accepted was that the Conservatives numbered 165; the Peelites, 161 ; and the Liberals, 327, giving the avowed Liberals a majority of one only over the combined sections of their old opponents. Such a condition of parties could not but have a marked effect upon the political action of the Par- liament. Ministers were dependent upon the Peelites for a working majority ; but the Peelites had recently been the leaders of the Conservative party, and were not prepared to sanction or allow any constitutional changes in Church or State. The only matter on which they were, as yet, entirely agreed with the Liberals was as to the maintenance and extension of the free trade policy ; and as this was exactly the point which the Tories wanted to attack, the alliance between Whigs and Peelites was on the whole likely to be continued. This union, involving the possibility of advance on finan- cial and commercial questions, but inaction with regard general political and social affairs, had its effect at the otl end of the scale, and added to the number of the Liberals wl were prepared to sympathize and vote with the Radicals.
- The Spectator for September 11, 1847.
