to say, seem to take for granted that I am
to lead the House of Commons. But this is not so simple a matter.
First, it must be offered to Sir George Grey. If he refuses, then
secondly, I do not think I can get on without a different
arrangement of treasury and chancellor of exchequer business,
which will not be easy. But the worst of all is the distribution
of offices as between the two Houses. It has long been felt that
the House of Commons was too weak and the House of Lords too
strong, in the share of the important offices, and now the
premiership is to be carried over, unavoidably. No such thing has
ever been known as an administration with the first lord, foreign
secretary, secretary for war, and the first lord of the admiralty,
in the House of Lords.(106) _This_ is really a stiff business.

_To Lord Russell. Carlton House Terrace, Oct. 23._--You having
thought fit to propose that I should lead the House of Commons, I
felt it necessary first to be assured that Sir George Grey, who
was in constructive possession of that office, and under whom I
should have served with perfect satisfaction, could not be induced
to accept the duty. Of this your letter seemed to contain
sufficient proof. Next, I felt it to be necessary that some
arrangement should be made for relieving me of a considerable and
singularly disabling class of business, consisting of the cases of
real or supposed grievance, at all times arising in connection
with the collection of the public revenue under its several
heads.... The third difficulty which I named to you in the way of
my accepting your proposal, is what I venture to call the
lop-sided condition of the government, with the strain and stress
of administration in the House of Commons, and nearly all the
offices about which the House of Commons cares, represented by
heads in the House of Lords. It weighs very seriously on my mind,
and I beg you to _consider_ it.... I have rather particular
engagements of a public nature next week; at Edinburgh on the 2nd
and 3rd in connection with the university business, and at Glasgow
on the 1st, to receive the freedom. I am anxious to know whether I
may now finally confirm these engagements?

_To Mrs. Gladstone, Oct. 23._--I think I see my way a little now.
Lord Russell agrees that cabinets should be postponed after