AND THE DUKES OF RICHMOND. 165 



cause for rescinding the solemn compact made with 

 the agricultural interest in 1843. He could see no 

 difference between the Anti-Corn Law Leas^ue and the 

 Government, and no reason why they should not 

 create Mr. Cobden a peer. He denounced the league 

 as the author of all these changes, and warned their 

 Lordships, by the example of L^eland still unappeased 

 by the concession of 1829, not to be intimidated into 

 a smTender of their opinions. 



" He declared that he would resist by every means 

 in his power any diminution in the amount of agri- 

 cultural protection, and called for an explanation of 

 the mysterious resignation of noble Lords." 



Lord Stanley, in reply, declined to enter into details 

 with regard to his motives on retiring from the 

 Government, under the plea that he could not do so, 

 without stating what were the measures contemplated 

 by the other members of the Cabinet. He stated, 

 however, that upon one question only (relating to 

 the degree and amount of agricultural protection) was 

 there any difference of opinion. 



A few days later the Duke of Eichmond asked the 

 Duke of Wellington whether he had received her 

 Majesty's permission to state the reasons which had 

 induced the Government to resign and again to accept 

 office ; and a discussion having ensued, he proceeded to 

 say that " he hoped an inquiry would take place before 

 changes were made in the law. He supposed that the 



