nate in his carrying his points, and leaving the defence of them to his colleagues, and the discredit to the Queen."

A Cabinet meeting to consider Palmerston's action was held December 22, 1851. Even after what had passed, Palmerston did not believe he would be dismissed, nor did his friends consider his services could be dispensed with. He and they were mistaken, for without exception every member of the Government condemned his conduct and demanded his resignation. "I nearly dropped off my chair," writes Charles Greville, "when at five o'clock, a few minutes after the Cabinet had broken up, Granville rushed into my room and said, 'Palm is out.'" The satisfaction felt by the Court at his removal from office is expressed in a letter of Prince Albert's to his brother the Duke of Saxe-Coburg, in whose Memoirs it is published. In this Prince Albert speaks of the happy circumstance of the fall of the minister, "who embittered our whole life, by continually placing before us the shameful alternative of either sanctioning his misdeeds throughout Europe and rearing up the Radical party here to a power under his leadership, or of bringing about an open conflict with the Crown and thus plunging the only country where liberty, order, and lawfulness exist together into general chaos." Palmerston was too good-natured and wide-minded a man to harbour animosity towards his late colleagues; and on his

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successor in office calling on him he received him with great cordiality, saying "Ah, how are you Granville? Well you have got a very interesting office, but you will find it very laborious; seven or eight hours' work every day will be necessary for the current business, besides the extraordinary and parlia– mentary, and with less than that you will fall into arrears. He then gave him valuable information and advice, "spoke of the Court without bitterness, and in strong terms of the Queen's 'sagacity'; and ended by desiring Granville would apply to him when he pleased for any information or assistance he could give him. This" continues Greville, "is very creditable, and whatever may come after it, very wise, gentlemanlike, becoming and dignified."

But Palmerston's freedom from animosity was not so superhuman as to check his triumph when, February 16, 1852, he moved and carried by a majority of nine, an amendment against a Militia Bill brought in by the Prime Minister; when the latter resigned. "I have had my tit-for-tat with John Russell and I turned him out"; wrote Palmerston to his brother; adding a mention of "the almost insulting manner towards him in which the House by its cheers went with me in the debate." The Queen then commissioned the leader of the Conservatives, Lord Derby to form an Administration. The new Prime Minister's dignity of bearing, his graciousness of manner, his handsome appearance—

aquiline nose and clear-cut mouth and chin-combined to make him an ideal type of an English aristocrat. So also did a certain condescending suavity which he affected toward all those in his immediate circle; which at the same time militated against his popularity with his political colleagues. His great gift was his polished and stately oratory, which showed no trace of an internal nervousness that was so great as to make his throat and lips parched as those of a man about to be hanged. In forming his Cabinet he invited Palmerston to join it as Chancellor of the Exchequer ; but this was declined on the ground that he could not join a Government which favoured Protection. The new Administration on being completed had the singular distinction of numbering but two members who previously had held office; its Prime Minister Lord Derby, and its Lord President Lord Lonsdale. It was also memorable for having Benjamin Disraeli, as Leader of the House of Commons. His delight at holding office for the first time after many disappointments was unbounded; and he felt, as he told Lord Malmesbury, the new Foreign Secretary "just like a young girl going to her first ball." The Derby Administration was not a success. Weak from the first, it tottered for ten months, and fell without a struggle December 17, 1852.

Her Majesty then sent for her old friend George Hamilton Gordon, fourth Earl of Aberdeen, a man of