an. From 1846 to 1852 he served in
the Bussell administration as secretary at war: he afterwards served
as president of the board of control, until the breaking up of the
ministry. On Tuesday, the 8th of February, the new ministry was
completed, and was thus arranged:--

First Lord of the Treasury........ Viscount Palmerston.

Lord Chancellor .................. Lord Cranworth.

President of the Council.......... Earl Granville.

Privy Seal........................ Duke of Argyle.

Foreign Secretary ............... Earl of Clarendon.

Home Secretary .................. Right Hon. S. Herbert.

Colonial Secretary .............. Sir George Grey.

Minister of War ................. Lord Panmure.

Chancellor or the Exchequer....... Right Hon.W.E. Gladstone.

First Lord of the Admiralty....... Sir James Graham.

Public Works ..................... Sir W. Molesworth.

In the Cabinet, but without office The Marquis of Lansdowne.

President of the Board of Control Sir Charles Wood.

On the 16th of February the house met for the transaction of business,
and very eager was the public ear for the words that should fall from
the lips of the new premier. He informed the house, with brevity and
clearness, of the circumstances which placed him in the situation he
then held; and bespoke in energetic, self-reliant, and courteous terms,
the confidence of the commons of England.

It was generally known that negotiations were about to be opened in
Vienna, with a view to a treaty of peace. Lord Palmerston took the
country, if not the house, by surprise in announcing that he had chosen
Lord John Russell as the representative of England at the conference
about to ensue. This gave public satisfaction, as Lord John Russell's
recent conduct, and the general disclosure upon the breaking up of the
cabinet, showed that his lordship had been a very warlike member of it.*

* Nolan's "History of the War against Russia." London: J.
S. Virtue

The cabinet of Lord Palmerston was not destined to remain long unbroken.
When the period arrived for appointing a committee of inquiry, in
virtue of Mr. Roebuck's motion, it became evident that the ministry
was divided. The Peelites were in favour of an attempt to defeat
the appointment of a committee. Lord Palmerston was opposed to its
appointment also, but would not risk the overth