came in a different way. The deliberations thus
summarised had been held under the shadow of a possibility, mentioned to
the Queen in the report of this last cabinet, of a coalition between the
tories and the Irish nationalists, in order to put an end to the existence
of the government on their budget. This cloud at last burst, though Mr.
Gladstone at any rate with his usual invincible adherence to the salutary
rule never to bid good morrow to the devil until you meet him, did not
strongly believe in the risk. The diary sheds no light on the state of his
expectations:--

_June 6._... Read Amiel's _Journal Intime_. Queen's birthday
dinner, 39; went very well. Much conversation with the Prince of
Wales, who was handy and pleasant even beyond his wont. Also had
some speech of his son, who was on my left. _June 7, Trinity
Sunday._--Chapel Royal at noon and 5.30. Wrote.... Saw Lord
Granville; ditto _cum_ Kimberley. Read Amiel. Edersheim on Old
Testament. _June 8._--Wrote, etc.... Pitiless rain. Cabinet,
2-3-3/4.... Spoke on budget. Beaten by 264:252. Adjourned the House.
This is a considerable event.

The amendment that led to this "considerable event" was moved by Sir
Michael Hicks Beach. The two points raised by the fatal motion were,
first, the increased duty on beer and spirits without a corresponding
increase on wine; and, second, the increase of the duty on real property
while no relief was given to rates. The fiscal issue is not material. What
was ominous was the alliance that brought about the result.

The defeat of the Gladstone government was the first success of a
combination between tories and Irish, that proved of cardinal importance
to policies and parties for several critical months to come. By a
coincidence that cut too deep to be mere accident, divisions in the
Gladstone cabinet found their counterpart in insurrection among the tory
opposition. The same general forces of the hour, working through the
energy, ambition, and initiative of individuals, produced the same effect
in each of the two parties; the radical programme of Mr. Chamberlain was
matched by the (M79) tory democracy of Lord Randolph Churchill; each saw
that the final transfer of power from the ten-pound householder to
artisans and labourers would rouse new social demands; each was aware that
Ireland was the electoral pivot of the day, and while one of them was
wrestling with those whom he stigmatised as