‘My dear R.,—I wanted to see if I could give you any light as to the fate of the Government in the House of Commons—in the Lords their fate is fully decided.
‘I believe they will have a majority even considerable; some say as many as 50.1 I should little wonder, for the men vote with a pistol at their breasts, “your vote or your life”; that is, your Parliamentary life, for dissolution is the alternative, and many will not be reelected. But happen what may in their favour, the Lords’ vote is not to be got rid of. It is a millstone about our necks in all negotiations, and in all debates of the Lords it is a millstone round Lansdowne’s neck,
1 The division on Mr. Roebuck’s motion took place on the 28th of June. The numbers were 310 for the Government, and 264 against—a majority of 46. |
| LORD BROUGHAM’S LETTERS | 361 |
