roposal of the
government showed a gross, a glaring, an increasing deficiency, a
deficiency unparalleled in the financial history of a quarter of a
century. It was deluding the people and trifling with national
interests. It is certain that no financier before or since ever, in
Cromwellian phrase, made such a conscience of the matter, or ever found
the task more thankless.[359] Great as was the effect of the close and
searching argument that accompanied all this invective, even Mr.
Gladstone's friends thought it too impassioned and too severe upon
Lewis, in whose favour there was consequently a reaction. The cool
minister contented himself with quoting Horace's lines upon the artist
skilled in reproducing in his bronze fierce nails or flowing hair, yet
who fails because he lacks the art to seize the whole.[360]

At the end of February (1857), at a party meeting of 160 members, Lord
Derby told his men that the course taken by Mr. Disraeli upon the budget
had been concerted with him and had his entire approval; spoke with
admiration of Mr. Gladstone; justified political union when produced by
men finding themselves drawn to the same lobby by identity of sentiment;
and advised them not to decline such accession of strength as would
place their party in a position to undertake the government of the
country. The newspapers cried out that the long-expected coalition had
at length really taken place. In their hearts the conservative managers
were not sure that Mr. Gladstone's adhesion would not cost them too
dearly. 'He would only benefit us by his talents' (says Lord Malmesbury)
'for we should lose many of our supporters. The Duke of Beaufort, one of
our staunchest adherents, told me at Longleat that if we coalesced with
the Peelites he would leave the party, and I remember in 1855, when Lord
Derby attempted to form a government, and offered places to Gladstone
and Herbert, that no less than eighty members of the House of Commons
threatened to leave him.'[361] All these schemes and calculations were
destined to be rudely interrupted.

II

SPEECH ON THE CHINA WAR

While he was acting with Lord Derby on the one hand, Mr. Gladstone
sought counsel from Cobden on the other, having great confidence in his
'firmness and integrity of purpose,' and hoping for support from him in
face of a faint-hearted disposition to regard Lord Palmerston as a
magician against whom it wa