re almost a
surprise. "At two," he says (Feb. 1, 1867), "we went down to choose the
Speaker, and I had to throw off in my new capacity. If mistrust of self be
a qualification, God knows I have it." All opened excellently. Not only
was he mild and conciliatory, they found him even tiresome in his
deference. Some onlookers still doubted. Everybody, they said, admired and
respected him, some loved him, but there were few who understood him. "So
far," said a conservative observer, "Gladstone has led the House with
great good temper, prosperity, and success, but his rank and file and some
of his colleagues, seem to like him none the better on that account."(110)
Meanwhile, words of friendly encouragement came from Windsor. On Feb. 19:
"The Queen cannot conclude without expressing to Mr. Gladstone her
gratification at the accounts she hears from all sides of the admirable
manner in which he has commenced his leadership in the House of Commons."

He found the speech for a monument to Lord Palmerston in the Abbey "a
delicate and difficult duty" (Feb. 22). "It would have worn me down
beforehand had I not been able to exclude it from my thoughts till the
last, and then I could only feel my impotence." Yet he performed the duty
with grace and truth. He commemorated Palmerston's share in the extension
of freedom in Europe, and especially in Italy, where, he said,
Palmerston's name might claim a place on a level with her most
distinguished patriots. Nor had his interest ever failed in the rescue of
the "unhappy African race, whose history is for the most part written only
in blood and tears." He applauded his genial temper, his incomparable tact
and ingenuity, his pluck in debate, his delight in a fair stand-up fight,
his inclination to avoid whatever tended to exasperate, his incapacity of
sustained anger.

Chapter X. Matters Ecclesiastical. (1864-1868)

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