of Premier, was called upon by the queen to assume that
position. The lead of the House of Commons was assigned
to Mr. Gladstone, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A
few minor alterations were made in the personnel of the
government, and two new members introduced therein,
namely, Mr. Forster, as Under-Secretary of the Colonies,
and Mr. Göschen, first as Vice-President of the Board of
Trade, and, after a few weeks, as Chancellor of the
Duchy of Lancaster, with a seat in the cabinet." Other-
wise, the political character of the new ministry resembled
that of Lord Palmerston, although in the loss of that gifted
and popular statesman it failed to acquire the same
amount of confidence and respect from the various parties
into which the House of Commons was divided.
months before Lord Palmerston's death, a general election
had taken place, and the returns to the new Parliament
appeared to have somewhat added to the strength of
ministers, and to have given them a majority of about
seventy over their political opponents.

Three

A Reform Bill was promised in the speech from the throne, at the opening of Parliament. Some delay occurred in the production of this measure, and when at length it was brought in, it consisted of a part only of the government scheme, in the shape of a Bill for the reduction of the franchise. It was stated that the necessary complement, of a Bill for the re-distribution of seats, would not be introduced until the following session. This arrangement produced great dissatisfaction in the House, and ministers were at length obliged to bring in their Seats Bill without further delay, in order that the complete scheme of Reform might be discussed in Committee of the whole House. After several minor discomfitures on the question of Reform, ministers were defeated on May 28, on a motion, which was carried against them, for an instruction to the committee on the Bill to provide therein

Annual Register, 1865, p. 159.

1866.

1866.

for the better prevention of bribery and corruption at elections. They were again defeated, in committee, on June 18, by a resolution to amend the 5th clause (concerning the occupation franchise for borough voters) by striking out the words clear yearly,' with a view to the insertion of ratable' instead thereof." Regarding this decision as equivalent to a vote of want of confidence, ministers immediately tendered their resignations. The queen was, at the time, at Balmoral Castle, in Scotland, a circumstance which occasioned some delay. But, on learning the intentions of ministers, her Majesty expressed her desire that they would not persist in retiring from office in the existing state of public affairs, especially upon the Continent-where a war between Austria, Italy, and Prussia, was on the eve of taking place-and declared her opinion that a mere defeat upon a question of detail, which was capable of adjustment, did not call for such serious consequences. In deference to this opinion the matter remained in abeyance until the queen, on her return from Scotland, should be able to confer personally with her ministers. On June 26, the Premier and the Chancellor of the Exchequer had an audience with the queen, at Windsor Castle, at which her Majesty was informed that ministers persevered in tendering their resignations. They were accordingly accepted; and full explanations of the grounds of their retirement from office were given, on that day, to both Houses of Parliament. Earl Russell's statement, in the House of Lords, gave rise to speeches from Earls Derby, Granville, and Grey, upon the ministerial crisis. Mr. Gladstone's statement, in the House of Commons, elicited no remarks from any other member.

26. Earl of Derby's Third Administration.-1866.

On June 28, the House of Commons was informed that the Earl of Derby had received the queen's commands to • Hans. Deb. vol. clxxxiii. p. 1344. Pbid. vol. clxxxiv. p. 639.

form an administration.

Adjournments of both Houses

took place from time to time, until July 6, when new
writs were moved for in the House of Commons on behalf
of the incoming administration. But no observations were
made upon this occasion.
this occasion. On Monday, July 9, however,
the new premier, the Earl of Derby, made his ministerial
statement to the House of Lords. He said it had been
the wish of the Queen, and his own endeavour, that he
should be able to form a government composed, no
doubt, in the main, from the Conservative party, but
formed on an enlarged basis, capable of including within
it some persons either opposed to us, or who had been
supporters, or even members, of the late government.'
By enlarged basis' his lordship meant, enlarged, not as
to principles, but as to persons,' and not a government
of coalition; by which he understood a government of
men of different parties, in which cach, to a greater or
less extent, sacrifices his individual opinions for the pur-
pose of obtaining united political strength.' Being un-
successful in his attempt to obtain any such extraneous
aid,' Earl Derby proceeded to form a ministry from the
ranks of the Conservative party, which was accepted by
the Queen. His lordship then explained the general
principles upon which he proposed to carry on the go-
vernment. He was followed by Earl Russell, who com-
mented upon one or two topics of the premier's speech;
but no further discussion took place. After the return
of the new ministers, who had vacated their seats in the
House of Commons by accepting office, the business of
the session was brought to a speedy termination, and
Parliament was prorogued upon August 10. Although
the Conservative party was in an acknowledged minority
in the House of Commons, ministers met with no factious or
ungenerous opposition in winding up the public business.

But it was on Tuesday, June 26, that the Queen intimated her desire to the Earl of Derby that he should VOL. I.

M

form a ministry.
clxxxiv. p. 734.

Hans. Deb. vol.

Ibid. pp. 726-750.

1866.

TABULAR VIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN FROM 1782 TO 1866.

N.B.-The numbers refer to the preceding 'Narrative of Administrations,' which describes the political history of each Ministry.

Dismissed by the king on account of
Fox's India Bill

Disagreement with the king on account 1784, March 25 Obstructions and defeats of mi

of the Roman Catholic claims

1790, June 19
1796, May 20

nisters in the House of Com

Weakness of the ministry in the House 1802, June 29 On account of the near approach

of its natural term of existence,
the king offered Mr. Addington
a dissolution of Parliament be-
fore his resignation of office, but
the offer was declined.

The death, by assassination, of the pre-
mier

The resignation, occasioned by severe ill- 1812, Sept. 29
ness, of the premier. He was seized

with paralysis on February 17, 1827, 1818, June 10
but did not resign his office for about

six weeks. During this interval, and 1820, Feb. 28
from thence until April 10, the ministry
was virtually without a head