On the 10th of May, 1826, Mr. Brougham moved a Resolution, expressing the regret of the House of Commons at the non-compliance of the Colonists with the Resolutions respecting the condition of the Slaves, passed by the House in 1823, and declaring the intention of the House to take into its most serious consideration, in the next Session, such measures as might appear to be necessary for giving effect to those Resolutions. This motion was negatived by 100 to 38. In the previous part of the Session, he took a part in the several discussions relative to the Address on the King's Speech, the Promissory Note Bill, the Court of Chancery, the Corn Laws, the State of the Nation, and the Bill for allowing Counsel to address Juries on behalf of persons charged with felony.

At the General Election, he again contested the representation of Westmoreland, but with even less success than on former occasions; at the close of the poll, which was kept open for nine days, the numbers were, Lord Lowther, 2,097; Colonel Lowther, 2024; Mr. Brougham, 1378; he, therefore, took his seat in the new

House of Commons for Winchelsea, being the fourth time of his being returned for that Borough.

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In the beginning of 1827, he took a very active interest in the formation of the Society for diffusion of Useful Knowledge, the object of which is 66. by the periodical publication of "treatises, under the direction, and with the "sanction of a Superintending Committee, to “impart useful information to all classes of the community, particularly to such as are unable "to avail themselves of experienced teachers." Of this Committee, Mr. Brougham was appointed Chairman, which situation he still continues to hold. The first work commenced by this Society, was "the Library of Useful Knowledge ;" and the preliminary treatise, "On the Objects, Advantages, and Pleasures of Science," was written by Mr. Brougham, to whose pen several other works published by the Society, are generally attributed.

In the memorable debate, which took place in the early part of the Session of 1827, relative to the interference of this country in the affairs

of Portugal, Mr. Brougham delivered an admirable Speech in support of the conduct of Government with respect to that question; and on the formation of Mr. Canning's Administration, in May, 1827, he, for the first time during his Parliamentary career, took his seat on the Ministerial Benches, stating, that as Mr. Canning had successfully established a system of liberal and manly foreign policy, that Gentleman should, in the course of his administration, have from him (Mr. B.)* " that which he had a right, in point of consistency, to demand-a

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cordial, zealous, and disinterested support." -"I have," said Mr. Brougham, in the course of the discussions relative to the change of Ministry, "quitted a situation in this House, "which, considering the influence of opinion "and feeling, was, in the highest degree,

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grateful to me; and in which I was sur

rounded, and (if it may be permitted to say so,) supported, by one of the largest, the "most important, the most honourable, and, 66 now I may say it, for I was privy to all their "councils, and my motives cannot be sus"pected, the most disinterested Opposition that

• Collection of Speeches (in the press.)-Ridgway.

D

"ever sat within the walls of this House; men "who supported what they deemed right,

though it kept them out of power, and con"firmed their adversaries in office; and who persevered in that course year after year, "without a possible hope of benefit ever ac"cruing to themselves. I have quitted that "honourable and eminent situation, enough to

gratify the ambition of the proudest of men, "on an express stipulation which utterly ex"cludes the possibility of my taking office. I "have done so deliberately and advisedly. I "shall be sufficiently gratified in watching the progress of those opinions to which I am "attached, both as to our foreign and domestic

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policy. When I say that I have not become

a party to any arrangements with regard to "office, I wish it to be understood, however, "that the union which has taken place between

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parties lately divided, will have my cordial "and uniform support. My taking office "would have stood in the way of those arrange"ments, and I, therefore, at once, voluntarily, "and without waiting for a suggestion from

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any one, resigned all my claims to office. It is unpleasant to be forced to dwell on mat

"ters that are wholly personal to one's self;

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but, as has been most truly stated this night, "the character of a public man belongs to his

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country; and to his country he ought not to "be slow in furnishing the means of properly "estimating his motives."

The Address, in answer to the King's Speech, the Newspaper Stamp Duties, the Grant to the Duke and Duchess of Clarence, the Corn Laws, the Catholic Claims, the Election Regulation Bill, the disfranchisement of Penryn, the Trade with India, the conduct of Lord Charles Somerset at the Cape of Good Hope, the Court of Chancery, the Budget, and West Indian Slavery, were the principal other subjects on which he spoke during this Session.

On the first day of Trinity Term, 1827, Mr. Brougham (who had, on the Queen's death, retired behind the Bar,) having received a patent of precedence, again assumed the silk gown, which, had professional merit been regarded by previous Administrations instead of political support, he would have received long before.