164 EEC ORB 8 AND BEMINISOENCES OF GOODWOOD 



noble Duke had upon former occasions expressed. 

 The proposal of such a sweeping measure met with a 

 strong opposition from many influential members of 

 the House, especially from the Duke of Eichmond, who 

 denounced those who had deserted, or were about to 

 desert the Conservative ranks, in no measured terms. 



The bill, however, passed its third reading, the Duke 

 of Eichmond not pressing his amendment (" that it be 

 read a second time this day six months ") to a division. 



The Duke of Wellington's speech on the Corn Laws 

 was the last he ever made in the House of Lords as 

 a Minister of the Crown. 



When Parliament met on the 22nd of January, 1846, 

 the session was opened by her Majesty in person. 

 The Eoyal speech referred principally to the state of 

 Ireland, as to crime and the deficiency of the potato 

 crop, intimating remedial measures in both respects, 

 concluding with a eulogy of recent commercial 

 legislation, followed by an indirect recommendation 

 to consider how far greater advantages might be 

 gained by applying the principle more extensively. 



When the question was put by the Lord Chancellor, 

 that the address be adopted, the Duke of Eichmond 

 rose and expressed much displeasure that the dis- 

 cussion had been so abruptly concluded. " He had, 

 however, heard enough to know that Ministers in- 

 tended to withdraw protection from the industry of 

 the country, and he challenged them to show any 



