meet the Cabinet, and promised to return at four in order to
communicate the decision the Cabinet might have arrived at. On his
return he explained that after the vote at the beginning of the
Session on the Orders of the Day, which went directly against the
Government, after the small majority (only fourteen) which they had on
the motion of Mr Disraeli on the landed interest, and now the defeat
on the Franchise, it was clear that the Government did not possess
the confidence of the House of Commons. He complained of the
Protectionists staying away in a body on Mr King's motion, and he
(Lord John) himself being left without a supporter even amongst
his colleagues in the debate, but most of all of the conduct of the
Radicals; for when Mr King, hearing Lord John's promise to bring in
a measure next Session, wanted to withdraw his Motion, as he ought to
have done on such a declaration by the head of the Government, Mr Hume
insisted upon his going on, "else Lord John would withdraw his promise
again in a fortnight"; and when the result of the vote was made known
the shouting and triumph of the hundred was immense.

Lord John had declared to the Cabinet that he could not go on, that
the Income Tax would have to be voted the next day, and a defeat was
probable; it were much better therefore not to hesitate, and to resign
at once. The Cabinet agreed, although some Members thought with Lord
Palmerston that the occasion was hardly sufficient. Lord John begged
to be allowed till to-day, in order to see Lord Lansdowne, whom he
had sent for from the country, and to be able to tender then his
resignation; he would go down to the House to adjourn it, promising
explanations on Monday.

We agreed with Lord John that he owed to his station personally, and
as the Queen's Minister, not to put up with ignominious treatment,
praised his speech on the Suffrage, which is admirable, and regretted
that his colleagues had prevented him from bringing in a measure
this year. We talked of the difficulty of forming any Government, but
agreed that Lord Stanley and the Protection Party ought to be appealed
to; they longed for office, and would not rest quiet till they had had
it if for ever so short a time only.

We further went over the ground of a possible demand for a
Dissolution, which might bring on a general commotion in the country.
Lord John agreed in this, but thought the responsibility to be very
great for the Crown to refuse an appeal to