was at the point of yesterday, and was
immovable by considerations of the class he urged. _The only
security worth having lies in men_; the man is Lord Aberdeen; moral
union and association with him must continue, and must be publicly
known to continue. I therefore repeated my question to Lord
Aberdeen, whether he would in his place as a peer declare, if we
joined the cabinet, that it had his confidence with reference to
war and peace? He said, much moved, that he felt the weight of the
responsibility, but that after the explanation and assurances he
had received, he would. He was even more moved when Graham said
that though the leaning of his judgment was adverse, he would place
himself absolutely in the hands of Lord Aberdeen. To Herbert, of
course, it was a simple release from a difficulty. Palmerston had
told Cardwell, 'Gladstone feels a difficulty first infused into him
by Graham; Argyll and Herbert have made up their minds to do what
Gladstone does.' Newcastle joined us, and was in Herbert's sense. I
repeated again that Lord Aberdeen's declaration of confidence
enabled me to see my way to joining....

I went to Lord Aberdeen in his official room after his return from
Palmerston. It was only when I left that room to-day that I began
to realise the pang of parting. There he stood, struck down from
his eminence by a vote that did not dare to avow its own purpose,
and for his wisdom and virtue; there he stood endeavouring to cure
the ill consequences to the public of the wrong inflicted upon
himself, and as to the point immediately within reach successful in
the endeavour. I ventured, however, to tell him that I hoped our
conduct and reliance on him would tend to his eminence and honour,
and said, 'You are not to be of the cabinet, but you are to be its
tutelary deity.'

I had a message from Palmerston that he would answer me, but at
night I went up to him.

V

THE COMMITTEE REVIVED

The rush of events was now somewhat slackened. Lord John called on
Graham, and complained of the Peelites for having selfishly sought too
many offices, alluding to what Canning had done, and imputing the same
to Cardwell. He also thought they had made a great mistake in joining
Palmerston. He seemed sore about Mr. Gladstone,