400 DEFENCE OF QUEEN CAROLINE. [1820. 



the only judgment you ever pronounced, which, in- 

 stead of reaching its object, will return and bound 

 back upon those who gave it. Save the country, my 

 Lords, from the horrors of this catastrophe save your- 

 selves from this peril ; rescue that country, of which 

 you are the ornaments, but in which you can flourish 

 no longer, when severed from the people, than the 

 blossom when cut off from the roots and the stem of 

 the tree. Save that country, that you may continue 

 to adorn it save the Crown, which is in jeopardy 

 the Aristocracy, which is shaken save the Altar, 

 which must stagger with the blow that rends its kin- 

 dred Throne. You have said, my Lords, you have 

 willed the Church and the King have willed that 

 the Queen should be deprived of its solemn service. 

 She has instead of that solemnity the heartfelt prayers 

 of the people. She wants no prayers of mine. But I 

 do here pour forth my humble supplications at the 

 throne of mercy, that that mercy may be poured 

 down upon the people in a larger measure than the 

 merits of their rulers may deserve, and that your hearts 

 may be turned to justice !"* 



The letter of Lord Minto, which I before referred to, 

 was as follows : 



"HousE OP LORDS, October 4, 1820. 



" MY DEAR MRS BROUGHAM, For fear others should 

 be too much occupied to think of you this morning, 

 I take the opportunity of a short interruption in the 

 proceedings of the day, to let you know that Brougham 

 has just concluded a speech which has delighted and 

 astonished the most sanguine of his friends, who, you 



* Speeches, i. 226 et seg. 



