s enabled by fortune and
circumstances to attain what we toil after in vain, and to learn
from our own experience how many things there are in this life of
greater practical utility than splendid abilities and unwearied
industry.

London, January 19th, 1828 {p.120}

The Ministry is at last settled, and now for its history. Early
in last week Goderich went down to the King and told him there
was such a quarrel in the Cabinet between Huskisson and Herries
about the Finance Committee that both could not remain, and that
Huskisson would resign if he had not his own way. The King was
furious at this new disturbance, and said he could not understand
it; if Huskisson resigned, the Government was at an end. 'Go,' he
ended, 'and send the Chancellor to me.' The Chancellor [Lord
Lyndhurst] went, and was desired to bring the Duke of Wellington.
The Government was dissolved and the King desired the Duke to
form a new one. All this was immediately known, and first it was
asked, 'What is the quarrel between Huskisson and Herries which
broke up the old Cabinet?' The friends of each put about a story,
one of which appeared in the 'Times,' the other in the 'Morning
Chronicle.' The question was Lord Althorp's appointment as
chairman of the Finance Committee. Huskisson's story is this:--In
November Tierney went to Goderich and proposed Althorp as a good
man to be in the chair of that Committee. Goderich assented, and
said, 'But you had better speak to Huskisson about it, as it is a
House of Commons matter.' He did so, and Huskisson approved of
it. A few days after Tierney called on Huskisson and found
Herries with him, when they discussed the matter generally, as
well as the particular appointment of Althorp, and Herries made
no objection, and, as they thought, agreed with them; but shortly
after Herries went to Goderich, complained that this matter had
been settled without his knowledge and concurrence, that it was a
slight put upon him, and said he would not agree to Althorp's
nomination, nor stay in office if it were persisted in.

[Page Head: HOSTILITY OF HERRIES.]

This is one story, told me by Sefton, who had it (I am sure) from
Brougham, and _verbatim_ the same by Robarts, who had it (he told
me himself) from Tierney. Herries' story only differs in this: it
omits the interview between the three Ministers, and declares the
matter was never mentioned to him at all till they had decided on
it, when it was shown him as a plan w