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which brought such misery on their own subjects, as well as
those of a neighbouring state--they made war against that unoffending
country, which found little reason to felicitate itself on its conquerors
being distinguished by Christian feelings. The war against Poland, and
the subsequent partition of that devoted country, were prefaced by
language very similar to that which this treaty contains; and the
proclamation of the Empress Catherine, which wound up that fatal
tragedy, had almost the very same words."--The second speech to
which we allude was on the abuses of ancient charitable institutions.
Speaking of schools, the funds of which were landed and freehold
property, Mr. Brougham remarked, "In one instance, where the funds of
the charity are £450, one boy only is boarded and educated. In another
case, where the revenue of the establishment is £1,500. a year, the
appointment of a master lying in the lord of the manor, that gentleman
gave it to a clergyman, who out of this sum paid a carpenter in the
village £40. for attending the school. The funds in the country,
applicable to the education of the poor, cannot," he added, "be less than
one hundred and fifty thousand pounds." The result of these and similar
representations was the appointment of a committee to investigate the
state of the various charities of the kingdom, and inquire into the
application of their funds; from which measure great public good has
already resulted.
In 1818, Mr. Brougham was invited to become a candidate for the
county of Westmoreland, where his family have been settled for the last

sixty or seventy years: he could not, however, withstand the powerful
influence of the Lowther family, and thus lost his election. He made
another effort, at the dissolution of parliament, consequent upon the
death of George III., but was again unsuccessful; and a third time in
1826.
We are now approaching one of the most eventful eras of Mr.
Brougham's parliamentary life: we mean his intrepid defence of the late
Queen. Mr. Brougham was the first to dispatch M. Sicard, the old and
faithful servant of the Queen, with the intelligence of the death of
George III. The Queen immediately replied to Mr. Brougham, that she
was determined to return to England; and on February 22, 1820, Mr.
Brougham received from Lord Castlereagh an assurance that no
indignity should be offered to her Majesty while abroad. Mr. Brougham
was now appointed her Majesty's Attorney-General, on which occasion
he was admitted within the bar, and assumed the silk gown, which was
subsequently taken from him, but restored.
The Queen having arrived at St. Omer, on her way to England, Lord
Hutchinson, on the part of the King, was despatched to prevent, by a
liberal offer, her leaving the continent. Mr. Brougham consented to
accompany his lordship, willing to co-operate in the purpose yet bound
by office and by friendship to secure for the queen the best possible
terms. The Queen, however, was resolved, and while the deputies were
exchanging notes, her Majesty sailed for England, and proceeded to
London amidst all the demonstrations of popular triumph. Mr.
Brougham, with Mr. Denman, on behalf of the Queen, next met the
Duke of Wellington and Lord Castlereagh, on behalf of the King, to
propose measures for an amicable arrangement, but the insertion of her
Majesty's name in the Liturgy being refused, the negotiation failed. The
struggle was now fast approaching. The notable green bag was laid on
the table of the House of Commons, and Mr. Brougham commenced by
deprecating a hasty discussion. The next day the minister developed the
projected prosecutions of the government; Mr. Brougham replied, and
concluded by demanding for the Queen a speedy and open trial. We
need only advert to his subsequent reply to the note of Lord Liverpool,
to the speech of Mr. Canning, and to the conciliatory proposition of Mr.
Wilberforce. Then followed his speech at the bar of the House of Lords
against the intended mode of investigation--his speech against the bill

of Pains and Penalties--his reply to the crown counsel, and afterwards
to the Lord Chancellor--and finally his defence of the Queen against the
several charges. His _defence_, it will be remembered, lasted nearly
two days, and Mr. Brougham, amidst profound silence, concluded one
of the most eloquent speeches ever heard within the walls of
parliament--with this pathetic appeal:--
"My lords, I call upon you to pause. You stand on the brink of a
precipice. You may go on in your precipitate career--you may
pronounce against your Queen, but it will be the last judgment you ever
will pronounce. Her persecutors will fail in their objects, and the ruin
with which they seek to cover the Queen, will return to overwhelm
themselves. Rescue the country; save the people, of whom you are