1865.] P aimer stons Last Administration. 459 of much popular agitation and party difficulty. On the 8th of June Mr. Lavvson moved the second reading of his Per- missive Bill, which was to give power to a certain proportion of ratepayers in a district to veto the issuing of licences for the sale of intoxicating liquors. On this its first appearance the measure was rejected by 292 to 35, but it was supported by men who to a burning zeal added untiring industry, and it has been forced upon the attention of Parliament in a manner altogether unprecedented. Towards the close of the session the Conservatives plucked up courage to try a fall with the Government Encouraged by the charges brought the year before by Cobden, they thought there was a chance of some secession from the Radicals, and a very small one would have been sufficient for the purpose of defeating ministers. On the 4th of July motions of want of confidence were submitted to both Houses. That in the Lords was carried by a majority of nine, the numbers being 177 to 168. In the Commons the debate was more protracted, and was adjourned over four nights. In the course of the discussion it was soon known that the Radicals, however much they distrusted and disliked the Premier, would not put the Tories in office. Cobden explained once more the grounds of his opposition, but would not be a party to the overthrow of the Government. The consequence was, that on the 8th, when the division was taken, the vote of censure was rejected by 313 to 295. This majority was the full force of the united Liberal party, which had been decreased since the general election. It gave great encouragement to the Govern- ment, which, it was felt, would now see out the present Par- liament, which had one more session to run. The Houses were prorogued on the 29th of July. In the last session of a Parliament the nearness of a general election always produces some appearance of activity, and even the Palmerston Ministry was susceptible of impressions of this kind. So that the Queen's speech, delivered on the 7th of February, 1865, presented quite an array of subjects to be dealt with, instead of the single measure of 1864 and the
