ABSTRACT
The House of Commons, and no one more actively than Lord George Bentinck, could not, however, tolerate so great and so odious an increase of taxation from a government without a parliamentary majority. Notwithstanding the formal renunciation of the leadership of the protectionist party by Lord George Bentinck, it was soon evident to the house and the country that that renunciation was merely formal. The resistance was led with great ability by Mr. Herries, and the whole party put forward their utmost strength to support him. But it is very difficult to convey a complete picture of the laborious life of Lord George Bentinck during the sitting of parliament. The session of 1848 had been one of unexampled length, and as usual under such circumstances the obstacles to the transaction of public business were sought everywhere except in the real quarter. The forms of the house and the propensity to unnecessary discussion among its members were chiefly denounced.
