It would be a more dangerous question, but it would make them (the Tories) show their colours, which is a great advantage.

He said they prevented Sir Edward Knatchbull from speaking last night." [Footnote 37: After eight days' discussions of Lord Sandon's Motion, the Ministers were defeated by 317 to 281.] [Pageheading: RESIGNATION POSTPONED] _Wednesday, 19th May._ "At twenty minutes to one came Lord Melbourne....

I returned him Lord John Russell's letter, and talked of it, and of John Russell's saying the division and Peel's speech made it absolutely necessary to decide _to-day_ whether to _resign_ or _dissolve_.

I asked what Peel had said in his speech about the Corn Laws.

'I'll tell you, Ma'am, what he said,' Lord Melbourne replied, 'that he was for a sliding duty and not for a fixed duty; but he did not pledge himself as to what rate of duty it should be.