was withdrawn, on an understanding with the Ministry; and on the 23d of the same month, the Orders complained of, so far as regarded America, were rescinded.

In the course of the same Session he displayed great talent and research in three several motions, made by him on the 21st of January, 25th of February, and 2d of June, with relation to the Droits of the Admiralty, which he contended had been, for many years, grossly misappropriated.

Mr. Brougham's Parliamentary conduct, especially his successful opposition to the Orders in Council, (which had been most injurious to the trading interest,) rendered him exceedingly popular; and, at the General Election, he was invited to offer himself as a candidate for the representation of the large and opulent town of Liverpool: the other candidates were, Mr. Creevey, who stood on the Whig interest; Mr. Canning, and General Gascoyne, (one of the old Members,) who received the support of the Tories. The election commenced on the 8th of October, 1812, and

continued till the 16th, when the numbers at the final close of the poll were; Canning, 1631; Gascoyne, 1532; Brougham, 1131; and Creevey, 1068. In the early part of the contest, it seemed probable that Mr. Brougham, and Mr. Canning, would have been returned; but a junction having been formed between the friends of the latter Gentleman, and those of General Gascoyne, the Tory party gained an ascendancy, which soon rendered all further opposition fruitless." Mr. Brougham was

In one of his Speeches at the Westmoreland Election, in 1818, he thus alludes to this contest: "The last and "the only time I had a contest, I was opposed to persons "of liberal feelings, and enlightened minds, men who "would have scorned to carry a point by clamour, or re"sort to tricks to overpower an adversary. To be opposed-as I was then-to a man like Mr. Canning, was a high honour; to be defeated by him, was no disgrace. "He was a man who took no undue advantage of his

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ponents-who conducted the contest fairly and honourably, and who added to his triumph the praise that it was won by laudable means. Opposed during a long ❝contest to this distinguished orator, a man of the greatest "talents and most accomplished mind of the day; no angry

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feeling was produced, no reason for complaint was given 66 on either side; and as we met as friends at the beginning "of the Election, so we parted at the end, with mutual "thanks and congratulations on the manner in which it had "been conducted."

also nominated for the Inverkeithing district of Scotch Boroughs; but being likewise unsuccessful there, he had no seat in Parliament for nearly four years afterwards.

He seems now to have devoted himself exclusively to the duties of his profession, in which he was rapidly rising. He was especially employed to defend persons charged with political offences. In December, 1812, he again defended Messrs. Hunts, the Proprietors of the Examiner, who were tried, and (through the extraordinary summing up of Lord Ellenborough) convicted of a libel, on the Prince Regent. The bold, and uncomprising course, pursued by Mr. Brougham on this occasion, in defence of his clients, is said to have been the original cause of that dislike, with which (if popular report may be credited) he was afterwards regarded by his late Majesty.

During the Parliamentary Session of 1816, Mr. Brougham (who had been again returned to the House of Commons for Winchelsea, another Borough in the patronage of the Earl of Darlington,) took a prominent part in the dis

cussions relative to the repeal of the Property Tax, the distressed state of the agricultural interest, the Alien Bill, West Indian Slavery, the financial affairs of the nation, &c. &c.; and on the 2d of April, after a Speech of some length, in which he narrated a number of very curious facts, illustrating the abuse of the power vested in the Treasury Board to remit penalties, inflicted for breach of the Revenue Laws, he proposed certain resolutions, condemnatory of the conduct of the Lords of the Treasury, with reference to a particular case mentioned in his Speech; but these resolutions were negatived by a large majority. On the 8th of May, he obtained leave to introduce a Bill for better securing the liberty of the press. This Bill (which he was ultimately obliged to abandon) was intended to abolish the power of exhibiting ex officio informations for libel, or seditious words, to take away the right of the Counsel for the Crown to reply on trials for such offences, when the Defendant had called no witnesses, and, under certain regulations, to permit Defendants to give evidence as to the truth of any libel, or seditious words.

In this Session, too, he commenced those exertions with respect to education, which have so eminently displayed his enlightened views, and have entitled him to the lasting gratitude of his fellow countrymen. On the 21st of May, he succeeded in obtaining the appointment of a Committee for enquiring into the education of the lower orders in the Metropolis; and on the 20th of June, he presented to the House the Report of this Committee, by which it appeared that no less than 120,000 children, in the metropolis alone, were without the means of instruction. On this occasion, after alluding to the flagrant abuses in several Charity Schools in the country, he suggested the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry, and expressed his determination of again bringing the subject before Parliament.

In the vacation of this year, Mr. Brougham proceeded to the Continent, for the purpose of having a conference on business of importance with the Princess of Wales, who had, some time previously, appointed him one of her legal Advisers. With a view of extending his practical knowledge on the subject of education, he