Editing John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (section)

=== Return to the backbenches: 1855–1859 ===
Following his resignation Russell wrote to his father-in-law that he would not serve again under Palmerston or any other prime minister.{{sfn|Scherer|1999|p=246}} For a time it appeared as if his career in frontbench politics might be over. Russell continued to speak out from the backbenches on the issues he most cared about – lobbying for increased government grants for education and for reduction in the property qualification for Parliamentary elections.{{sfn|Scherer|1999|pp=246-247}} In early 1857 Russell became a vocal critic of Palmerston's government over the [[Anglo-Persian War]] and the [[Second Opium War]]. Russell spoke in support of a motion tabled by [[Richard Cobden]], which criticised British military action in China and calling for a select committee inquiry. When the motion passed on 3 March, Palmerston dissolved Parliament and went to the country.{{sfn|Reid|1895|p=287}} In the subsequent [[1857 United Kingdom general election|general election]] Palmerston was swept back into power on a tide of patriotic feeling with an increased majority. Many of Palmerston's critics lost their seats but Russell hung on in the City of London, after fighting off an attempt to deselect him and replace him with a pro-Palmerston Whig candidate.{{sfn|Scherer|1999|pp=247-248}} Palmerston's triumph was short-lived. In February 1858 the Government rushed through a Conspiracy to Murder bill, following the [[Orsini plot|attempted assassination]] of Napoleon III by Italian nationalist [[Felice Orsini]] – an attack planned in Britain using British-made explosives. Russell attacked the bill, which he saw as undermined traditional British political liberties to appease a foreign government.{{sfn|Reid|1895|p=290}} On 19 February Russell voted in favour of [[Thomas Milner Gibson|Thomas Milner Gibson's]] motion, which criticised the government for bowing to French demands. When the motion passed by 19 votes Palmerston's government resigned.{{sfn|Prest|2009}}