On the next evening, Lord Aberdeen's statement in the peers was almost
as eagerly looked for as Lord John Russell's statement in the commons.
The earl declared that he hardly knew why the noble president of
the council retired from his colleagues, on the eve of a discussion
concerning events in connection with which he fully shared their
responsibility. The premier admitted that he had been aware that the
noble president of the council had been dissatisfied with the general
management of the war; that he had expressed that dissatisfaction, and
had made certain proposals concerning the occupation of the war office,
with which he (Lord Aberdeen) did not think it his duty to comply;
that he, and the government of which he was the head, would resist
Mr. Roebuck's motion, which he considered a vote of censure upon the
ministry. The premier's address was cold, stiff, haughty, and quietly
defiant, but did not appear to make the least impression upon the peers,
who were, like the rest of the public, burning with impatience to know
the terms and result of Lord John's explanation in the commons. We
did not remain in the house of peers, being more anxious, like their
lordships, about what was announced to occur in the other house. Lord
John Russell made his famous statement. Perhaps no statement was ever
made in parliament which excited so profound an interest. Every nook in
the house was full, except a small portion of the ministerial gallery.
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