st in the
substantial majority which the new Liberals acquired at the elections
of 1868, and the Disraeli ministry (Derby had retired early in the
year) gave place to a government presided over by the indubitable
leader of the new Liberal forces, Gladstone. The years 1868-1874,
covered by the first Gladstone ministry, were given distinction by a
remarkable series of reforms, including the disestablishment of the
Church in Ireland (1869), the enactment of an Irish land bill (1870),
the institution of national control of elementary education (1870),
and the adoption of the Australian ballot in parliamentary elections
(1872). Defeated at last, however, on an Irish university bill, the
ministry resigned, and when, at the elections of 1874, the country was
appealed to, the Conservatives obtained a clear parliamentary majority
of fifty seats. This was the first really dependable majority, indeed,
which the party had possessed since 1842. Disraeli became prime
minister and Derby minister for foreign affairs.[215]

[Footnote 215: The political history of the period
1830-1874 is covered very satisfactorily in W. N,
Molesworth, History of England from the Year
1830-1874, 3 vols. (London, 1874). Other general
works include: Walpole, History of England, vols.
3-6, extending to 1856; H. Paul, History of Modern
England, 5 vols. (London, 1904-1906), vols. 1-3,
beginning with 1845; J. McCarthy, History of Our
Own Times from the Accession of Queen Victoria, 7
vols. (1877-1905), vols. 1-3, beginning with the
events of 1837; J. F. Bright, History of England, 5
vols. (London, 1875-1894), vol. 4; and S. Low and
L. C. Sanders, History of England during the Reign
of Victoria (London, 1907). Briefer treatment will
be found in May and Holland, Constitutional History
of England, I., 440-468, III., 67-88, and in
Cambridge Modern History, XI., chaps. 1, 11, 12
(see bibliography, pp. 867-873). Biographies of
importance include S. Walpole, Life of Lord John
Russell, 2 vols. (London, 1889); H. Maxwell, Life
of the Duke of Wellington, 2 vols. (London, 1899);