*
* 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 overthrow of his power by any
attempt to thwart the wishes of the house. The Peelites resigned,
and the cabinet had to be reconstructed. On the 22nd of February the
secession was publicly announced.
Lord Palmerston obtained Sir Charles Wood--a man of inferior talents,
but superior moral weight--in place of Sir G. Graham. Sir G. Cornewall
Lewis became chancellor of the exchequer, who was much inferior to Mr.
Gladstone in that post, but a man of more direct and reliable opinions.
Mr. Vernon Smith was made president of the board of control. Lord John
Russell, who was (as before noticed) nominated to the Vienna conference,
accepted the colonial-office, which Sir George Grey occupied _ad
interim_, as well as the home-office, which he accepted _en permanence_.
The secession of those men from the cabinet, to whom our military
disasters were mainly attributable, was a gain to its moral influence,
and saved the premiership of Lord Palmerston from an extinction,
probably, as signal as that of his predecessor.
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