88 THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON. 
ain in a war with France and Russia. The French 
Embassador retired from London to Paris for the 
purpose of personal communication on the subject 
with his Government. Count Nesselrode on behalf 
of Russia remonstrated in a dispatch, which the Lon. 
don Times. characterized as reproachful, irrefutable, 
and just, and as profoundly affecting the peace of Eu- 
rope and the dignity of Great Britain. The united 
voice of Europe and America has condemned the con- 
duct of Great Britain in this affair. The House of 
Lords closed an historic debate by a vote of censure 
of the Government. In the Commons, the last words 
of Sir Robert Peel were raised in protest against this 
outrage on the rights of other nations; the morn. 
ing dawned on a protracted session of the House 
before he recorded his vote of condemnation; in the 
afternoon of the same day he met with the accident 
which closed his honorable life. Mr. Gladstone in the 
same debate said that the claim was “on the very face 
of it an outrageous fraud and falsehood ;” that “it 
was mere falsehood-and imposture,” and that “ a great- 
er iniquity had rarely been transacted under the face — 
of the sun.” 
Sir Alexander Cockburn was then without parlia- 
mentary distinction or political advancement. With 
‘the devotion of a Dalgetty, he placed his lance at 
the service of a chief, regardless of the merits of the 
cause. He was soon rewarded for his services by 
appointment to the office of Solicitor-General, from 
which he was promoted step by step, with unexam- 
pled celerity, to his present position: 
