s.
The Queen allowed him (Lord Derby) to know that a Dissolution would
not be refused to him, and trusted that her honour would be safe in
his hands as to the use he made of that knowledge. He seemed greatly
relieved, and stated that had he had to resign, he would have
withdrawn from public business, and the Conservative Party would have
been entirely, and he feared for ever, broken up. On a Dissolution he
felt certain of a large gain, as the country was in fact tired of the
"Whig Family Clique"; the Radicals, like Mr Milner Gibson, Bright,
etc., would willingly support a Conservative Government.

ALBERT.

[Pageheading: COLLAPSE OF THE ATTACK]

_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._[34]

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _21st May 1858_.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer with his humble duty to your Majesty.

The fullest House; it is said 620 Members present; it was supposed we
should have divided at three o'clock in the morning; Mr Gladstone
was to have spoken for the Government at half-past ten--very great
excitement--when there occurred a scene perhaps unprecedented in
Parliament.

One after another, perhaps twenty Members, on the Opposition benches,
rising and entreating Mr Cardwell to withdraw his Resolution. After
some time, silence on the Government benches, Mr Cardwell went to
Lord John Russell, then to Lord Palmerston, then to Lord John Russell
again, then returned to Lord Palmerston, and retired with him.

What are called the interpellations continued, when suddenly Lord
Palmerston reappeared; embarrassed, with a faint smile; addressed the
House; and after various preluding, announced the withdrawal of the
Motion of Censure.

A various Debate followed; the Chancellor of the Exchequer
endeavouring, as far as regards Lord Canning, to fulfil your Majesty's
wishes. It is impossible to estimate the importance of this unforeseen
event to your Majesty's servants. It has strengthened them more
than the most decided division in their favour, for it has revealed
complete anarchy in the ranks of their opponents. With prudence and
vigilance all must now go right.

The speech of Sir James Graham last night produced a very great
effect. No report gives a fair idea of it. The great country
gentleman, the broad views, the fine classical allusions, the happiest
all omitted, the massy style, contrasted remarkably with Sir Richard
Bethell.

[Footnote 34: Lord Shaftesbury's Motion in the Lords had been
lost by a majority