vus soeclorum nascitur ordo_) for the triumph of the Manchester
school, of which Gladstone is the disciple and the organ. And for the
nonce they have a great advantage; for, though the majority of the country
is against them, the country has no leaders in or out of parliament;
whereas they are all well provided and are equally compact in purpose and
action."(124) Somewhat earlier cool observers "out of hearing of the
modulation of his voice or the torrent of his declamation" regarded him
"in spite of his eloquence unsurpassed in our day, perhaps in our century,
in spite of his abilities and experience, as one most dangerous to that
side to which he belongs. Like the elephant given by some eastern prince
to the man he intends to ruin, he is an inmate too costly for any party to
afford to keep long."(125)

"One great weight that Gladstone has to carry in the political race,"
wrote his friend Frederick Rogers (Dec. 13, 1868), "is a _character_ for
want of judgment, and every addition to that is an impediment." And indeed
it is true in politics that it often takes more time to get rid of a
spurious character, than to acquire the real one. According to a letter
from Lord Granville to Mr. Gladstone (Feb. 11, 1867):--

Lowe described as perfectly unjust and unfounded the criticisms
which had been made of your leadership. You had always been
courteous and conciliatory with the whole House and with
individual members, including himself. He had seen Palmerston do
and say more offensive things every week, than you have during the
whole session.

Still people went on saying that he had yet to gain the same hold over his
party in parliament that he had over the party in the nation; he had
studied every branch of government except the House of Commons; he
confounded the functions of leader with those of dictator; he took counsel
with one or two individuals instead of conferring with the party; he
proclaimed as edicts what he ought to have submitted as proposals; he
lacked "the little civilities and hypocrisies" of political society. Such
was the common cant of the moment. He had at least one friend who dealt
faithfully with him:--

_T. D. Acland to Mr. Gladstone._

_Jan. 24, 1868._--Now I am going to take a great liberty with you.
I can hardly help myself. I have heard a lot of grumbling lately
about you, and have several times asked myself whether it would be
_tanti_ to tease yo