59_

CHAPTER I

THE COALITION

(_1853_)

The materials necessary for a sound judgment of facts are not found
in the success or failure of undertakings; exact knowledge of the
situation that has provoked them forms no inconsiderable element of
history.--METTERNICH.

England was unconsciously on the eve of a violent break in the peace
that had been her fortunate lot for nearly forty years. To the situation
that preceded this signal event, a judicious reader may well give his
attention. Some of the particulars may seem trivial. In countries
governed by party, what those out of the actualities of the fray reckon
trivial often count for much, and in the life of a man destined to be a
conspicuous party leader, to pass them by would be to leave out real
influences.

The first experiment in providing the country with a tory government had
failed. That alliance between whig and Peelite which Lord John the year
before had been unable to effect, had become imperative, and at least a
second experiment was to be tried. The initial question was who should
be head of the new government. In August, Lord Aberdeen had written to
Mr. Gladstone in anticipation of the Derbyite defeat: 'If high character
and ability only were required, _you_ would be the person; but I am
aware that for the present at least this would not be practicable.
Whether it would be possible for Newcastle or me to undertake the
concern is more than I can say.' Other good reasons apart, it is easy
to see that Mr. Gladstone's attitude in things ecclesiastical put him
out of court, and though he had made a conspicuous mark not only, as
Lord Aberdeen said, by character and ability but by liberality of view
especially in the region of colonial reform, still he had as yet had no
good opportunity for showing an independent capacity for handling great
affairs.

Not any less impossible was Lord John. Shortly before the occasion
arose, a whig intimate told him plainly that reconstruction on the basis
of his old government was out of the question. 'Lord John's answer was a
frank acceptance of that opinion; and he was understood to say that the
composition of the next government must be mainly from the ranks of the
Peelites; he evidently looked forward to being a member of it, but not
the head. When various persons were named as possible heads, Lord
Aberdeen