is was his
ceaseless refrain--the steadfast pursuit of the durable enlargement of
productive power as the commanding aim of high finance.

III

At the beginning of the year the public expectation was fixed upon Lord
John Russell as the protagonist in the approaching battle of parliamentary
reform, and the eager partizans at the Carlton Club were confident that on
reform they would pull down the ministry. The partizans of another sort
assure us that "the whole character of the session was changed by Mr.
Gladstone's invincible resolution to come forward in spite of his friends,
and in defiance of his foes, for his own _aristeia_ or innings." The
explanation is not good-natured, and we know that it is not true; but what
is true is that when February opened, the interest of the country had
become centred at its highest pitch in the budget and the commercial
treaty. As the day for lifting the veil was close at hand, Mr. Gladstone
fell ill, and here again political benevolence surmised that his disorder
was diplomatic. An entry or two from Phillimore's journal will bring him
before us as he was:--

_Jan. 29._--Gladstone's emaciation in the past fortnight alarms me,
as it has, I find, many other persons. _Feb. 5._--Gladstone
seriously ill; all the afternoon in Downing Street; a slight
congestion of the lungs. Great treaty and financial speech put off
till Thursday. Was to have been to-morrow. Gladstone wished to see
me, but I would only stay a minute by his bedside. He looked very
pale. He must not speak for ten days, or Ferguson (his doctor)
said, he will meet Canning's fate. _Feb. 6._--With Gladstone in the
evening. He is still in bed, but visibly better. _Feb. 7._--With
Gladstone a long time in the morning. Found him much better though
still in bed. Annoyed at the publication of the new treaty with
France in the Belgian papers, it being part of the scheme of his
finance measure. _Feb. 8._--Gladstone drove out to-day; bent on
speaking the day after to-morrow. Ferguson allows him. I again
protested. _Feb. 9._--Saw Gladstone; he is better. But I am
frightened at the proposed exertion of Friday. _Feb. 10._--Saw
Gladstone in the morning, radiant with expected success, and again
at night at 10 o'clock in Downing Street still more radiant with
triumph. Spoke for three hours and fifty minutes without
suffering. Thinks that the House will acce