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THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS . We resume our narrative of the proceedings connected with , the breaking up of the old Ministry , and the attempt to form a new one , at the point where we left off last Saturday . * It appears that the Times of Saturday was rather premature in announcing that Ministers had resigned . Owing to the absence from town of the Marquis of Lansdowne , Lord John Russell , although he had made up his mind on Friday to tender his resignation , awaited the return of his colleague before carrying his resolution into effect . On Saturday morning those two members of the late Cabinet waited upon her Majesty , when a long consultation took place , the result of which was a resolution to give the Protectionists an opportunity of trying to form an administration . At half-past two o ' clock the Queen wrote to Lord Stanley , commanding his immediate presence at the Palace . What took place at the interview between the Queen and his lordship is not known , as he did not consider himse lf at liberty to give any explanation on Monday evening . The rumour current among the Protectionists -is that he refused to undertake ihe responsibility of conducting the Government unless he had her Majesty ' s consent to dissolve Parliament , as he could not expeel to have a working majority in the present House of Commons . The Queen , it is said , refused to give any such pledge , and the Standard supplies the reason
by innuendo . It asks , " Was nothing said of the danger that a general election might spoil the show in Hyde-park ; or that the show in Hyde-park , concurring with a general election , might give opportunity for tumult to the ill-disposed ? " The official statement is merely that " Lord Stanley said he was not then prepared to form an administration ; " from which it is inferred that he wished to have the aid of Mr . Gladstone , for whom a messenger had been despatched hot haste to Paris , and who was not expected home till Wednesday . No sooner had Lord Stanley left the Palace than a second missive was sent after him so suddenly , that it reached his residence , in St . James ' s-square , before he returned there .
" The contents of this letter , " says the Daily News , " we pretend not exactly to divine ; but certain it is that after its reception no further steps were ostensibly taken to fulfil the task ascribed to him , while other councillors were summoned to take part in the deliberations of the Sovereign . Had Lord Stanley declared himself ready to attempt the duty of forming a Cabinet , it is impossible that a constitutional Monarch should suddenly retract the offer thus made . Eut if , on the other hand , the truth be that Lord Stanley admitted frankly his iinpreparedness to submit the names of an Administration , but expressed a hope that , if time were given to send for Mr . Gladstone , then Supposed to be at Paris , he might be in a condition to submit a list for her Majesty ' s approval upon Monday , then the riddle is easily read .
The Queen may have speedily come to the conclusion , that to suspend the whole Government of the empire until a courier , should be able to find a secondary personage like Mr . Gladstone , would hardly be considered a wise or seemly exercise of the royal discretion . To tell the assembled Parliament that they must adjourn their sittings , and to tell the nation at large that its wants and duties must be suspended until the ambiguous repre * - sentative of Oxford should be caught and coaxed back to England , could hardly fail of appearing rath , er absurd ; and the Queen , although she may have been unwilling to give a peremptory negative to the proposition when orally made , unquestionably acted with her usual judgment in speedily apprising Lord Stanley of her sentiments on the subject . "
Be that as it may , a sudden change seems to have taken place in the deliberations at the Palace . Lord John Russell hud been exceedingly busy all Saturday afternoon , having hud interviews with Lord Palincrutoii and the other members of the late Cabinet separately . At half-past five o ' clock the whole of the members of the retiring Ministry were Biunmoned by a ' private ttnd immediate" communication to meet Lord John at Downing-street . After half an hour ' s iton-Hultation he proceeded to the Palace once more ,
where ho remained m consultation nearly two liouru . Before leaving he received orders from her Majehty "to attempt the reconstructing of a ( joverument that would command the confidence of the country . " Whut Kteps he took for that purpose we ciin only giaher from the meagre notices in the daily papers of the movements of the Whig and Tory leadens . The current rumour on Monday , was that Sir James Graham , with tho J ) uke of Newcastle , the Honourable Sidney Herbert , the Earl of Clarendon , and the Honourable -Fox Manic would endeavour to form
a , Ministry , with the aid of Home othcrw of the lt . uH . sell Cibinct . Ah to Lord . Stanley , the Mtatemeiit of tho Protectionist , organs in that he wan jilted in u mmic ' whut unaccountable manner , after lie had been received __ wjith much " grac iouHiicHH , condcHCunmon , and kind" % e 8 jfr > of manner , '' and had accepted her MujcHty ' rt f . « iJ 3 | bjiLi \ l » -J . o form an AdminiHtration . The Morns * vtgrfJ&RplQ ^ ot' Monday , in an edition published in ¦ fthw ' ^ flNfc-nb ^ n , saya : — ««« r- -+.,-t .- « j- ~ ~ Z < ^ . OtrrT » iurtry renders will find in jmk «; lifS tlio < irnt part , of I lit ) "Wr T ^' ' V * ttM * « I >|> euir ( l in our latent edition hint tiuliirtlity . V -- ' ' ¦ -, ^ ) . -4 ¦ > ¦>¦ ¦ ¦ ¦' .: v aN 2 i >
" We can state positively that Lord Stanley has not failed in procuring the adhesion . such persons as would form a strong administration , should he be called upon to fulfil the duty entrusted to him on Saturday . This , however , may not be demanded from him to-day , in consequence of circumstances which have occurred since the interview which his lordship had with her Majesty on Saturday—circumstances over which Lord Stanley had no control . At the present hour Lord John Russell is busily occupied in the endeavour to re-construct a Cabine ' t—an office undertaken by him in a way which will not appear to redound to the political character or credit of some of the parties concerned . We can say that there are difficulties in the way of this re-construction which ought to be insurmountable , and that it is very likely his lordship ' s object will not be accomplished .
" The explanations in reference to this affair in Parliament , when the matter is there discussed , will be curious and edifying . " Among the movements which came to light on Monday morning was the statement that Lord Aberdeen arrived in town , from Blackheath , about six o ' clock on Saturday , in compliance with a note from Prince Albert , requesting his immediate attendance at the palace , where he went at half-past nine , and remained in consultation with the Queen and Prince Albert till nearly midnight . On Sunday morning the noble earl and Sir James Graham visited Lord John Russell ; and at a later period of the day the Earl of Aberdeen visited Lord Stanley , to inform
him , no doubt , that Lord John had resolved to make another attempt at cabinet-making rather than throw the country into disorder by a sudden dissolution . In the evening the noble earl received a note from Prince Albert , requesting his attendance at the palace at nine o ' clock , where he had another long conference with her Majesty and the Prince Consort . On Monday morning Lord Palmerston and several , other members of the late Cabinet , visited Lord John Russell at Chesham-place , soon after which the latter proceeded to Buckingham-palace . Sir James Graham
called upon the Earl of Aberdeen at noon , and remained two hours in consultation with him . Mr . Disraeli and other leading members of the Protectionist party called upon Lord Stanley . At five o ' clock the Earl of Aberdeen received a letter from her Majesty ( those on the two previous occasions had been from Prince Albert ) commanding his lordship ' s presence at the palace at nine o ' clock ; Lord John Russell and Sir James Graham arrived at the same time , and the result of the proceedings up ^ to that time , according to the Chronicle , " left theV ^ sk of forming an Administration in Lord Stanley's wind . "
The proceedings in Parliament , on Monday evening , threw very little light upon the state of affairs . The House of Commons was unusually crowded at an early hour . The least incident was anxiously watched , and one which created a vociferous burst of cheering and laughter was the entrance of Mr . Monckton Milnes , -who walked up the house and inadvertently sat down in Lord John Russell ' s usual seat . At five o ' clock " Lord John Russell rose , and , amid breathless silence , addressed the House as follows : —Sir , —On Friday evening last I promised the House that I would , on this day , state the reasons that induced me to propose on that evening an adjournment of the Committee of Ways
and Means to the present time . I now rise acquit myself of that engagement . The House will remember that immediately after the commencement of the session a otion was made by the hon . member for Buckinghamshire calling upon her Majesty ' s ministers to take immediate measures for the relief of the distress prevailing among the owners and occupiers of land . Every member of tins House , and every person in the country must have considered that that motion was a motion to take out of the hands of her Majesty ' s present Government , the conduct of the measures which it is the duty of a Government to propose . The honourable member for Bucks took a perfectly parliamentary course on that subject . He stated that he had in vain appealed to the
Government during the previous session , and that he now had no resource but to appeal to the House of Commons . I do not in the slightest degree complain of the couroe adopted by the honourable member , I merely wish to state what must be the effect in the view of every one if tliat motion had been successful . Two hundred and sixty-nine members of this House voted for that motion , and two hundred and eighty-three against it , and , therefore , the majority of those present consisted of only fourteen members . Now , sir , upon a question of that kind brought forward in hostility to the Government ut the . very commencement of tho session , tho Chancellor of tho Exchequer having given notice of his intention to bring forward the financial statement of the year , a majority of only fourteen must
tend to weaken any Government , it being impossible to curry on the business of the country with bo Hinall a majority ia the House of Cimimiioiih . But it uppeured to me , that although the majority wus small , yet that it' there was u determination on the purt of all the members forming tho majority to rhuinluin those priuciplvs of commercial policy which in effect were in question on that day , that that union might have made up for the Hinalli > euu of the majoiity , and thut the Govern inent might huve conducted micccasfully the uflairs of the country . But on the 20 th of February a motion wan ¦ nude with regard to a certain question of Parliamentary reform ; and on thut question , though in a thin House certainly , there being scarcely more thun a hundred inemhciH present . — tlie Governinent was beaten by a majority of two to one . Now , uir , if that had occurred
in ordinwy ciroumwfaiees , 1 mi « ht £ thotfh } ? w * was owing to the fcmness of the House , and to tho . * who wereiniavo ^ of the motion having brought down a considerable number in support of it , and that probably on the discussion of the bill , which must have been introduced founded upon that motion , there would have been a majority in accordance with the views of the Government . But in the circumstances in which we were placed , I did consider , that though honourable gentlemen may have acted entirely with a view to the Particular question before the House and not at all with reference to the result upon the Ministry , I did think that , though that being their intentions and . views , yet in effect having the whole of the financial and other ™ « ,, rPH Wore us . and the probability , as I am inclined
to think and believe there was , that on those other measures and on other incidental questions we might meet with similar defeats—( hear , hear)—I came to the conclusion that the Government was not m a position to conduct satisfactorily the business of this House during the present session . ( Hear , hear . ) I thought that it was for the public interest , that if that was the case the House should not be be called upon to go into discussions of our financial measures , and to form decisions on those questions , when it was probable that the Government would not be abl <* to go successfully through the session . I thought , likewise , that it was a dangerous and very disadvantageous thing for the country that a Governinent should continue liable to defeats from time to time , having but a small majority at any time , and carrying on , therefore , but a lingering existence during the great part of the session yet to come . I therefore assembled the other members of the Cabinet ,
and stated to them that in my opinion the best course we could take , as a Ministry , was to tender our united resignations to her Majesty , and to leave her Majesty free to form another Administration . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , my colleagues in the Cabinet concurred with me in that opinion . ( Cheers from the Ministerial side of the House . ) One very important member of that Cabinet , the Marquis of Lansdowne , the Lord President of the Council , was at the time absent in the country , and I did not formally tender our resignations on that day ( Friday ) to her Majesty without having first consulted him . " Therefore it was that I asked the House to consent to an adjournment till to-day . ( Hear , hear . ) Early on the following morning the Marquis of Lansdowne came to town . He met me at Buckingham Palace , and stated that he concurred
with me entirely in tbe view we had taken . I thereupon proceeded at once to lay before her Majesty trie unanimous resignations of the members of her Administration , which resignations her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept . Her Majesty was also graciously pleased to inform me that it was her intention to send immediately to Lord Stanley , and to entfijkt him with tbe charge of forming a new GovernmentvTLater in the day—in the afternoon—X was requested to go again to Buckingham Palace , and , on arriving there , I was informed by her Majesty that Lord Stanley had stated that he was not ' then ' prepared to form a Government . Her Majesty then asked me to undertake the charge of reconstructing a government that might be able to obtain . the confidence of the House of Commons .
Sir , I thought it my duty , in these circumstances , to attempt the task her Majesty was graciousl pleased to impose upon me . And I assured her Majesty that I would undertake it , though I was perfectly aware of the many difficulties surrounding such an attempt . The House will , I think , agree that I should only add to those difficulties and be , at the same time , acting most improperly if I were to state anything further on this occasion- ' ( Hear , hear . ) I have only , therefore , to request the House , without passing to any discussion or to any judgment as to what has taken place , to adjourn until Friday next , when I trust some definite result will have been come to ; and that I shall be able to say either that I have succeeded or that I have abandoned the task
that I have undertaken . In either case the House will then learn what is likely to be the result . ( Hear , hear . ) I beg , sir , now to move that the House do adjourn till Friday next . ( Cheers . ) " Mr . Disuaeli , who rose amidst cries of Order , ' and other symptoms of impatience , said : I feel it my duty , after the statement of the noble lord , to occupy the attention of tho House for a moment . It is most trueand , indeed , a matter of public notoriety—that Lord Stanley has had an audience with her Majesty , and when he shall receive her Majesty's gracious permission to state what transpired at that audience , he will do ho publicly and in a constitutional ' jnunner in his place in Parliament . But there is one observation which fell
from the noble lord I feel it my duty not to pass unnoticed . When the noble lord stated that Lord Stanley stated to her Majesty that he was not prepared to form an administration" Lord J . Ruhskll : Not ' then ' prepared . ( Cheers . ) " Mr . Disuakli : Not ' then' prepared to form an administration , the correction of the noble lord does not affect what I am about to state . I must express my conviction that when the noble lord said that Lord Stanley atuted to her Majesty that he was not then ' prepared to form an administration , he made a statement to the llouae which on further reflection he will , I think , acmowledge was not founded on what actually occurred . ( Hear , hoar . )
" Lord John Huhhkll : After what the honourable gentleman has stated , 1 will only say that Loid Stanley wil no doubt at the proper time when ho shall tbink fit to do no , and have received the permission of lwr Majesty Htate what really occurred . My belief in that the statement which will then be made by Lord Stanley will bear the construction I have put upon it . "Mr . ltoKnuOK : I have one observation to make an to tho extraordinary statement which tho House has juhi heard . We are about to adjourn till Friday / The noble lord is about in the meantime to endeavour to reconstruct hia cabinet . The noble lord may fail , and then , without
Untitled Article
190 Sfie ftt&ttt . [ Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 1, 1851, page 190, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1872/page/2/
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