l exertions of your son, and you
must be supremely happy as a father in the reflection that the
capacity to make such exertions is combined in his case with such
purity of heart and integrity of conduct.

More than fifty years later in offering to a severe opponent magnanimous
congratulations in debate on his son's successful maiden speech, Mr.
Gladstone said he knew how refreshing to a father's heart such good
promise must ever be. And in his own instance Peel's generous and
considerate letter naturally drew from John Gladstone a worthy and
feeling response:--

_John Gladstone to Sir R. Peel._

_June 17._--The receipt last evening of your kind letter of
yesterday filled my eyes with tears of gratitude to Almighty God,
for having given me a son whose conduct in the discharge of his
public duties has received the full approbation of one, who of all
men, is so well qualified to form a correct judgment of his merits.
Permit me to offer you my most sincere thanks for this truly
acceptable testimonial, which I shall carefully preserve. William
is the youngest of my four sons; in the conduct of all of them, I
have the greatest cause for thankfulness, for neither have ever
caused me a pang. He excels his brothers in talent, but not so in
soundness of principles, habits of usefulness, or integrity of
purpose. My eldest, as you are aware, has again, and in a most
satisfactory manner, got into parliament. To have the third also
again there, whilst the services of naval men, circumstanced as he
is, who seek unsuccessfully for employment, are not required, we
are desirous to effect, and wait for a favourable opportunity to
accomplish. Whenever we may succeed, I shall consider my cup to be
filled, for the second is honourably and usefully engaged as a
merchant in Liverpool, occupying the situation I held there for so
many years.

It was while they were in office that Peel wrote from Windsor to beg Mr.
Gladstone to sit for his portrait to Lucas, the same artist who had
already painted Graham for him. 'I shall be very glad of this addition
to the gallery of the eminent men of my own time.'

ENTRY INTO THE CABINET

It was evident that Mr. Gladstone's admission to the cabinet could not
be long deferred, and in the spring of the following year, the head of
the government