Perilous Question: Reform or Revolution? Britain on the Brink, 1832

  Mahon, Viscount (later 5th Earl Stanhope) 84

  A Leaf from the Future History of England, 102–3

  Maidstone, 28

  Manchester, 19, 26, 60–1, 80, 100, 103, 139, 170, 171, 196; see also Peterloo Massacre

  Manchester Guardian, 75

  Manners-Sutton, Charles, 78, 109, 232, 241

  Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, 2, 7, 74, 187, 193, 228, 250, 258

  Martin, Harry, 255

  Martineau, Harriet, 58, 220

  Marx, Karl, 52n

  Marylebone, 250

  Masham, Samuel, 185

  Meiningen, 7

  Melbourne, 2nd Viscount

  description of cities, 19

  on Whigs’ family ties, 52

  becomes Home Secretary, 58

  appearance, 60

  private life, 60

  earlier career, 60

  view on appropriate response to civil disturbances, 61

  comment relating to Munster, 116–17

  as Old Etonian, 127

  concerns about plans of political unions, 138

  in indirect contact with Radical opinion, 138

  and disagreements among Cabinet members, 175

  and ‘the Goodwood Set’, 183

  sets up special commission to hand out exemplary punishments to rioters, 196

  and Durham, 206, 266

  Haydon’s description of, 261

  later becomes Prime Minister, 275

  Merthyr Tydfil, 121, 138

  Midlands, 13, 15, 162, 171, 172; see also names of places

  Milborne, 160

  Mill, James, 75, 101, 159, 270

  Milton, Viscount (later 3rd Earl Fitzwilliam), 156

  Moncrieff, W.T.: Reform, or John Bull Triumphant, 91–2

  Moore, Thomas, 73, 229

  Morning Chronicle, 67, 75, 76, 151, 228, 245

  Morning Herald, 196

  Morning Post, 63

  Morpeth, Viscount (later 7th Earl of Carlisle), 180

  Moseley, Revd Thomas, 120

  Mundy, Harriot, 152

  Mundy, William, 152

  Munster, George FitzClarence, 1st Earl of, 73, 116–17, 243

  Musters, Mr, 152

  Napoleon, 134, 135

  Nash, John, 194

  National Gallery, 272

  National Political Union, 160, 196, 220, 245

  National Union of the Working Classes, 157, 171, 208–9, 212

  Nelson, Admiral, 4

  Newcastle, 4th Duke of, 16, 119, 152, 162, 254

  Newcastle upon Tyne, 250, 274–5

  Newhall Hill

  meetings at, 143–4, 219–24, 227

  Haydon’s depiction of, 221, 260

  Newtown, Isle of Wight, 17, 88

  Norfolk, civil disturbances in, 61

  Norfolk, 12th Duke of, 9

  Norman, Richard, 172–3, 176

  North, John Henry, 91

  Northumberland, 17–18, 120

  Norwich, 181

  Norwich, Henry Bathurst, Bishop of, 262

  Nottingham, 162, 170, 171, 196

  Nottingham Journal, 75

  Nottinghamshire, 13

  O’Connell, Daniel, 2, 10, 20, 66, 93, 98, 125, 189, 224

  Old Sarum, 19, 80, 263

  Owen, Robert, 152

  Oxford, Countess of, 135

  Oxford University, 81, 116, 122

  Paganini, Nicolo, 126

  Palmerston, Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount

  relationship with Emily Cowper, 51, 59

  becomes Foreign Secretary, 57

  believes in need for Reform, 59–60

  and Queen Adelaide’s outfit allowance, 74

  loses seat at Cambridge University, but is found a seat at Bletchingley, 123

  and Cabinet disagreements, 130

  and discussions about date of next meeting of Parliament, 175

  and ‘the Goodwood Set’, 183

  and Cabinet discussions about creation of new peers, 187

  painted by Haydon, 261

  and Durham, 266

  later becomes Prime Minister, 275

  brief references, 16, 160, 186, 206

  Panshanger, 69

  Parkes, Joseph

  expresses hopes about Reform, 67

  background, 137

  involvement in Birmingham Political Union, 137–8, 220

  description of Newhall Hill, 143

  estimates size of crowd at Newhall Hill in 1831, 143

  Place describes meeting with Grey to, 159

  Althorp writes private letter to, 177

  letter to Harriet Grote about creation of new peers, 183, 184

  and Cobbett’s conversation in bookseller’s shop, 217

  fund-raising efforts, 220

  at meeting at Newhall Hill in May 1832, 222

  attends meeting at Place’s house, 233, 234

  subsequent career, 268

  important role of, 277

  Parliament; see Commons, House of; 1834 fire; Lords, House of

  Parsons, Revd, 161–2

  Partington, Dame, 155

  Peel, Edmund, 58

  Peel, Jonathan, 58

  Peel, Sir Robert

  and Catholic Emancipation, 9–10

  and 1830 Revolution in France, 11

  Stanley and Graham make secret approach to, 34

  background and character, 34–5

  speech in Commons (November 1830), 46

  conversation with Princess Lieven after Government defeat in Commons, 48

  and promotion of relatives, 58

  speech after Althorp’s presentation of budget, 76

  and Tory discussions before the presentation of Reform Bill, 77

  and the introduction of Reform Bill to Commons, 79, 84

  and loss of Oxford University seat, 81

  attack on Reform Bill, 85, 86, 87

  and dissolution of Parliament, 109

  responds to second Reform Bill, 124–5

  attends opening of new London Bridge, 128

  speech in Commons on the day before vote in Lords, 135

  concerned about public riots, 171

  response to third Bill, 179, 182–3

  reluctant to head new administration, 230–1

  refuses to head new administration, 240, 241–2, 271

  views on how to calm public unrest, 271–2

  later becomes Prime Minister, 275

  brief references, 33, 90, 98, 197

  Peel, William, 58

  Pelham, John Cresset, 194

  Penny Papers for the People, 152

  Pepys, Samuel, 31

  Perceval, Spencer, 198–200, 207

  Peterloo Massacre 1819, 13–14, 75, 76, 81, 85, 100, 135–6, 142, 237

  Phillpotts, Henry, Bishop of Exeter, 155, 174, 213–14, 215

  Place, Francis

  reaction to 1830 Revolution in France, 12

  background, 37–8

  avidity for learning, 38

  on Duke of Wellington, 38–9

  and popular violence, 43

  hostility to cliques, 54

  Parkes expresses hope of Reform to, 67

  enthusiasm for Reform Bill, 87

  regarded as ‘political father’ by Parkes, 137

  Lamb in contact with, 138

  view of Anglican Church, 142

  meeting with Grey, 158–9

  enjoys hospitality of the Grotes, 159

  founds National Political Union, 160

  on Queen Adelaide, 203

  on the peers as a class, 210

  letter to Parkes about his work, 220

  and decision to take financial action, 232–3, 233–4

  and the possibility of Wellington’s return to power, 245, 248

  hopes for further reforms, 265

  subsequent career, 268

  important role of, 277

  brief references, 40, 51, 151, 157, 258, 259, 271

  Poland, 224

  Political Register, 101, 217

  Ponsonby, Geor
ge, 58

  Ponsonby, Mary; see Grey, Mary, Countess

  Poor Man’s Guardian, 75, 152–3, 173–4, 208, 217

  Powell, John, 151, 157, 158

  Protheroe, Edward, 167

  Radicals, 12 and n, 38, 40, 51, 75, 87–8, 99, 100, 102, 137, 138, 144, 152, 157, 159, 217, 232–5, 277; see also names of individuals

  Radnor, 3rd Earl of, 62, 89

  Reform Bill

  political and social context, 1–29, 33–9

  differing views on subject of Reform, 33, 36–7, 38–9, 40–2, 43, 44, 45–6, 47

  Government defeated over Whig motion about Reform, 47–9

  Committee of Four formed to consider Reform, 62–7, 68

  expectations of Reform, 67–8

  draft proposals, 69

  correspondence between William IV and Grey before introduction of, 69–71

  shown to William, and approved, 71

  announcement of forthcoming presentation of, 76

  Tories meet to plan response to, 77

  presented to Commons by Russell, 77–80

  reactions to, 80–5

  and Radicals, 85, 87–8

  Peel mounts official Tory attack on, 85, 86–7

  supported by The Times, 88

  debate in Commons on, 88–9, 90–1

  discussed in fashionable London, 91

  supported by Birmingham Political Union, 92–3, 98

  supported by Irish MPs, 93–4, 98

  debate on second reading summed up by Russell, 95

  Commons vote in favour of, 95–7

  enters Committee stage, 98

  Cabinet remains united about, 99

  Hunt turns against, 100, 101

  Tory opposition to, 102–4

  Whigs agree to make some changes to, 104

  Government defeated over Gascoyne’s amendment, 104

  dissolution of Parliament after defeat of, 107–11

  1831 General Election fought on issue of Reform, 115–16, 118–20

  Gladstone’s views on, 121–2

  majority of Commons in favour of, 122, 123

  concerns about possibility of House of Lords refusing to pass, 122, 130

  idea of creating new peers expressed by Grey in a letter, 122–3

  introduction of Second Bill into Commons, 123–4

  response of the Opposition expressed by Peel, 124–5

  passes in Commons, 125

  attempts to prevent Bill from going to Committee stage, 126

  Committee stage, 127, 130

  Chandos clause, 130

  passes Committee stage, 131

  passes in Commons, 134

  Tories remain opposed to, 134–5

  success celebrated at Whig dinner, 135–6

  fears expressed about consequences of rejecting, 138

  debated in House of Lords, 139–43, 144–9

  Lords vote against, 149–50

  aftermath of Lords vote, 151–66, 167–74

  William prorogues Parliament, 165–6

  Cabinet discussions on the way ahead for, 175

  introduction of Third Bill to Commons, 177–9

  debated, 179–83

  passed by Commons, 183

  creation of peers considered as solution to problem of getting through Lords, 184–9, 190–3

  remains topic of concern to the public, 195–6

  Wellington maintains opposition to, 196–7

  Committee stage, 197–8

  reasons for opposition to, 200–1

  Grey declares unalterable commitment to, 202

  tensions and apprehensions, 202–9

  third reading passes in Commons, 209

  formally presented to Lords, 209

  canvassing of support of uncommitted peers, 209–10

  prevarication of the King, 210–11

  debate in House of Lords, 211–15

  vote on second reading in Lords, 215–16

  passes into Committee stage, 216

  and disagreements among reformers, 217

  Cabinet agrees changes to, 217–18

  debated in Lords, 218–19

  Government defeated over, 219

  public meeting in Birmingham in support of, 219–24

  Government resigns after defeat of, 224–5

  days of crisis between Government defeat and the return of Grey, 226–48

  Tory reactions after Grey’s return, 250–1

  no further official confrontations over, 252

  debate at third reading of, 252–4

  passes in House of Lords, 254

  the King refuses to attend House of Lords for Royal Assent, 255–6

  Royal Assent to, 257–8

  crucial role of public opinion, 258

  triumphal arch proposed to celebrate, 258–9

  celebratory banquet at Guildhall, 260

  artistic depictions to commemorate, 260–2

  countrywide rejoicing about, 263

  misgivings about, 263–4

  whole Reform Bill eventually passed throughout British Isles, 265

  General Election under new rules, 266–8

  achievement of, 269–71

  impact of character and personality on events, 271–4

  avoidance of revolution, 276–8

  Reform Club, 55n

  Richmond, 5th Duke of

  Goodwood estate attacked by rioters, 29

  background, 45

  views about Reform, 45–6

  included in Grey’s Cabinet, 58, 99

  Brougham’s comment on, 99

  Lyndhurst shows anger towards, 109–10

  and disagreement in the Cabinet, 130

  and discussion about date of next meeting of Parliament, 175

  and colonies, 180

  and ‘the Goodwood Set’, 183

  and Cabinet discussions about creation of new peers, 187, 188

  and Durham, 206

  possibility of continuing in office under a new administration, 226

  informs Althorp of Wellington’s decision not to attempt to from new administration, 241

  painted by Haydon, 261

  visits Althorp, 266

  Riot Act, 162

  Riviere (gunmaker), 171

  Robespierre, Maximilien de, 52

  Rochdale, 179, 237

  Rogers, Samuel, 36, 273

  Rothschild, James, 113–14, 130

  Rothschild, Nathan, 113, 233

  Rotunda, Blackfriars Bridge, 44

  Roy, Rammohun, 145

  Royal Coburg Theatre, 91

  Royal Hospital, Chelsea, 61

  Russell, G.W.E., 35

  Russell, Lord John (later 1st Earl Russell of Kingston Russell)

  own bill for Reform, 11, 100

  and East Retford, 20

  emotional courage, 33

  voice, 33, 65

  lack of independent wealth, 50, 65

  as member of Committee of Four, 62

  background, 3, 64–5

  determination and intelligence, 65

  and draft proposals of Committee of Four, 69

  Grey’s announcement of presentation of Reform Bill by, 76

  presents Reform Bill to Commons, 77–80, 270

  speech reported in The Times, 88

  Croker’s attack on, 89

  sums up debate on second reading of Bill, 95

  introduces second Reform Bill, 123–4

  letter to Attwood, 153, 164–5

  and Cabinet discussions about moderating the Bill, 175

  presents new Bill, 177–8

  perceives real peril in ‘Days of May’, 238

  conversation with Haydon, 261

  depictions of, 262

  later becomes Prime Minister, 275

  brief references, 26, 84, 86, 90, 179–80, 219, 240, 252, 259, 268

  Rutland, 269

  Rutland, Duchess of, 9

  Rutland, 5th Duke of, 13, 37, 77, 117, 172, 176

  St Giles (racehorse), 257

  St James’s Chronicle, 19
5–6

  St James’s Palace, 43–4, 107–8, 126, 157, 194

  Sandon Hall, 178

  Satirist, The, 236–7

  Saville, John, 142

  Saxe-Meiningen, Duke of, 7

  Scarbrough, 6th Earl of, 254

  Scholefield, Joshua, 26, 267

  Scorton Green, 263

  Scotland, 15, 19, 59, 269

  Scotsman, 143

  Scottish peers, 16, 186, 192

  Scottish Reform Bill, 265

  Secret Ballot, 87, 88, 101–2, 160

  Sefton, 2nd Earl of, 24

  Septennial Act 1716, 20, 102

  Seymour, Robert, 203

  Shakespeare, William

  Coriolanus, 82

  Macbeth, 135

  Sheffield, 19

  Shelley, Frances, Lady, 37

  Shelley, Percy Bysshe, 14

  The Masque of Anarchy, 237–8

  Sherborne, 161–2

  Sherborne Castle, 161

  Sherborne Journal, 161–2

  Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 181

  Sidmouth, 1st Viscount, 81

  Skipworth, Sir George, 153

  Smith, Hon. Robert, 111–12

  Smith, Sydney, 17, 52, 53, 65, 83, 102, 142, 155, 156, 160, 177, 217, 277

  Soane, Sir John, 276

  Society of the Friends of the People, 23

  Somerville, Alexander, 97, 150, 153, 171, 222

  Sophia, Princess, 106

  South Shields, 139

  Southwark, 181, 228

  Spectator, 92, 93, 98

  Spencer, 2nd Earl, 54, 62, 129, 150

  Spencer, John, Viscount Althorp; see Althorp, John Spencer, Viscount

  Spencer, Lavinia Bingham, Countess, 52

  Standard, 176

  Stanhope, Lady Hester, 84

  Stanhope, 5th Earl, 34

  Stanley, Edward (later Lord Stanley and 13th Earl of Derby)

  on the buying and selling of boroughs, 17

  background and career, 33–4

  becomes Chief Secretary for Ireland, 59

  speech in debate following introduction of Reform Bill, 89

  and O’Connell, 93

  criticizes idea of Secret Ballot, 101–2

  and conditions in House of Commons, 125

  enables Whig contact with Waverers, 178

  speech in debate about new Reform Bill, 180, 181–2

  reports on events in Ireland, 189

  during Lords debate, 212

  subsequent career, 275

  brief references, 99, 130, 195, 232

  Stormont, Viscount (later 4th Earl of Mansfield), 82, 236–7

  Strangford, 6th Viscount, 197

  Stratfield Saye, 47

  Strutt, Edward, 82, 214, 229

  Suffolk, 61

  Sun, 151

  Sussex, civil disturbances in, 28, 29

  Sussex, HRH Prince Augustus, Duke of, 57, 73, 78, 125, 139, 218, 257, 262

  Swing, Captain, 14–15, 29, 277

  Talleyrand, Prince, 3, 39, 53

  Taunton, 155

  Tavistock, 89

  Taylor, Sir Herbert, 41, 74, 108, 138, 163, 210, 211, 242, 246, 252