ere. To Colonel Ponsonby indeed,
I observed that I thought Mr. Disraeli was endeavouring, by at
once throwing back on me an offer which it was impossible for me
at the time and under the circumstances to accept, to get up a
case of absolute necessity founded upon this refusal of mine, and
thus, becoming the indispensable man and party, to have in his
hands a lever wherewith to overcome the reluctance and resistance
of his friends, who would not be able to deny that the Queen must
have a government.

(M147) Mr. Disraeli's reply to the Queen's inquiry whether he was prepared
to form a government, was put into writing, and the two operative
paragraphs of it were sent through Colonel Ponsonby to Mr. Gladstone. They
ran as follows:--

In answer, Mr. Disraeli said he was prepared to form an
administration which he believed would carry on her Majesty's
affairs with efficiency, and would possess her confidence; but he
could not undertake to carry on her Majesty's government in the
present House of Commons. Subsequently, her Majesty having
remarked that Mr. Gladstone was not inclined to recommend a
dissolution of parliament, Mr. Disraeli stated that he himself
would not advise her Majesty to take that step.

Viewing these paragraphs as forming the answer offered by Mr. Disraeli to
the Queen, Mr. Gladstone reported to her (March 14) that "he did not find
himself able to gather their precise effect":--

The former of the two, if it stood alone, would seem to imply that
Mr. Disraeli was prepared to accept office with a view to an
immediate dissolution of parliament, but not otherwise; since it
states that he believes himself able to form a suitable
administration, but not "to carry on your Majesty's government in
the present House of Commons." In the latter of the two paragraphs
Mr. Disraeli has supposed your Majesty to have remarked that "Mr.
Gladstone was not inclined to recommend a dissolution of
parliament," and has stated that "he himself would not advise your
Majesty to take that step." Your Majesty will without doubt
remember that Mr. Gladstone tendered no advice on the subject of
dissolution generally, but limited himself to comparing it with
the alternative of resignation, which was the only question at
issue, and stated that on the part of the cabinet he humbly
submitted resignation of t