known to be in favour of peace. A year later Lord Carnarvon and Lord
Derby had both left the Cabinet rather than be responsible for a
vote of credit which meant preparation for war, and for calling out
the Reserves.

--
* May 5, 1877.
--

Froude was in complete sympathy with the retiring ministers, and he
regarded it as a profound mistake for England to quarrel with Russia
on behalf of a Power which had no business in Europe at all. From
his point of view the presence at the Colonial Office of so
sympathetic a Minister as Carnarvon was far more important than the
difference between the Treaty of San Stefano and the Treaty of
Berlin. Of the Afghan War in 1878 he strongly disapproved.

The following extracts from letters to Lady Derby show the phases of
thought on the Eastern Question through which Froude passed, and are
interesting also because they represent him in an unfamiliar light
as the champion of parliamentary Government against the secret
diplomacy of Lord Beaconsfield. Arbitrary rule might be very good
for Irishmen. As applied to Englishmen Froude disliked it no less
than Gladstone or Bright.

"February 16th, 1877.--The Opposition have no hope of making a
successful attack on the present Parliament--but they are resolute.
They know their own minds, and Gladstone (I know) has said that he
has but to hold up his finger to force a dissolution and return as
Prime Minister. I too think you are deceived by the London Press.
Another massacre and all would be over. The Golden Bridge you speak
of I conclude is for Russia; but if it was possible for the Cabinet,
without changing its attitude, to make such a bridge, there would be
no need of one. England has been, and I fear still is, the one
obstacle to measures which would have long ago brought the Turk to
his senses. I cannot but feel assured that you have thrown away an
opportunity for securing to the Conservative party the gratitude of
Europe and the possession of office for a generation. If more
mischief happens in Turkey it will be on you that public displeasure
will fall, and you may need a bridge for yourselves and not find
one. I croak like a raven. Perhaps you may set it down to an almost
totally sleepless night."

"April 30th, 1877.--You destroy the last hope to which I had clung,
that Lord Derby, though opposed to Russian policy, would not consent
to go to war with her. I remain of my old opinion that England
(foolishly excited as it always when fi