mons, at a period when so many questions of
importance are in agitation.' I expressed as well as I could, and
indeed it was but ill, my unfeigned and deep sense of his kindness,
my hesitation to form any opinion of my own competency for the
office, and at the same time my general desire not to shrink from
any responsibility which he might think proper to lay upon me. He
said that was the right and manly view to take.... He adverted to
my connection with the West Indies as likely to give satisfaction
to persons dependent on those colonies, and thought that others
would not be displeased. In short, I cannot go through it all, but
I can only say that if I had always heard of him that he was the
warmest and freest person of all living in the expression of his
feelings, such description would have been fully borne out by his
demeanour to me. When I came away he took my hand and said, '_Well,
God bless you, wherever you are._'

From Sir Robert the new under-secretary made his way, in fear and
trembling, to his new chief, Lord Aberdeen.

Distinction of itself naturally and properly rather alarms the
young. I had heard of his high character; but I had also heard of
him as a man of cold manners, and close and even haughty reserve.
It was dark when I entered his room, so that I saw his figure
rather than his countenance. I do not recollect the matter of the
conversation, but I well remember that, before I had been three
minutes with him, all my apprehensions had melted away like snow in
the sun. I came away from that interview conscious indeed of his
dignity, but of a dignity so tempered by a peculiar purity and
gentleness, and so associated with impressions of his kindness and
even friendship, that I believe I thought more about the wonder of
his being at that time so misunderstood by the outer world, than
about the new duties and responsibilities of my office.[67]

Time only deepened these impressions. It is not hard for a great party
chief to win the affection and regard of his junior colleague, and where
good fortune has brought together a congenial pair, no friendship
outside the home can be more valuable, more delightful, alike to veteran
and to tiro. Of all the host of famous or considerable men with whom he
was to come into official and other relations, none ever, as we shall
see, held t