AND THE DUKES OF RICHMOND. 173 



re-established. On a division, the majority for 

 Ministers was only two. 



His Grace never ceased to advocate the cause of 

 the agricultural interest; as on the 15th of May, 



1849, he brought forward the question of agricultural 

 distress, and drew a lamentable picture of the ruin 

 which had been brought on the agricultural population 

 by Free Trade measures, stating that the Government 

 could not retrace their steps, and for that reason the 

 farmers wished to see another Administration. 



For his part, although the resignation of the 

 ministry was sometimes held up in terrorem over 

 the country, he wished they would carry their threat 

 into execution and resign, for he was convinced that 

 there would be no difficulty in finding better men to 

 fill their places. He pointed out how the numbers 

 of paupers and labourers out of employment had 

 increased, and added, " The English agricultural 

 labourer was an honest, good-hearted man, but he 

 feared could not long continue so if unemployed." 



When Parliament met on the 31st of January, 



1850, during the debate upon the address, his Grace 

 again came forward to support the cause he had so 

 much at heart, and, upon some remarks made by the 

 Earl of Carlisle, the Duke warned him " that the time 

 might come when it would be fortunate for him to 

 be shorn of his honours. To speak plainly, he thought 

 the agricultural interest had been slighted in the 



