1845. the Free-traders, ag woll as that of a large body, if not the
Ar. 41. majority, of his usual supporters. It was nob certain thst
Tord John conld have settled it, for the simple reason thot
many of the Conservatives, especially in the House of Lords
would have declined to follow him in a policy which they
hardly persuaded themselves to accept from Wellington snd
Peel.
On the failure of his rival, Sir Robert Peel went ©
Windsor, withdrew his resignation, and returned to Londo
having already resumed the functions of the First Minister of
the Crown. He hoped by speaking to his colleagit® fro
the point of a definitely accepted position, to secure tho SOP”
port of those whe had dissented from him at the beginnit
of the month. One at least of the survivors, who was in #
position to know Peel’s mind at this moment, holds it for
certain that the Minister returned to town in the afterno®”
of the 20th, in full confidence that hs would carry his potty
with him in the tremendous step which he had resolved
take. Lord Stanley withdrew ab once,’ but Peel persisted 1B
thinking that the schism would end there. It was pot 11827
weeks before he found out his mistake. Thirty years aft?
these events, when Peel’s bitterest assailant had bY °
singular destiny raised himself to the height of power fro”
which Peel was now looking down upon him, he made *
interesting remark on & criticism that had been publish?
npon his career. “The writer,” said Lord Beaconsfield
% fails to do justice to a striking distinction in my politic?
history. The Duke of Wellington in passing Catholic Ema”

346

LIFE ® (OBDER.

roms?

? Lord Stenley’s placa at the Colonial Office was taken by Mr. Ginde?0
who had left the Ministry under circumstances already desoribed {p- 326)
Ho had 10 seat in Porlisment during the important session of 1846: paviZé
cemigned Newark, for which he had been returned by the D ake of pe
castle. The Duke was one of the stoatest opponents of Ire Ten
suocessfully using all his influedce to secure the defest in North Nott?
hig own son, whom Peel now promoted to the office of Irish Recretaty >
a seat in the (ebinet.