m, as
F. Peel and Sir C. Douglas went before him. But this section has been
arrested, not thoroughly amalgamated, owing to Graham. Thirdly, there
are the great bulk of the Peelites from Goulburn downwards, more or less
undisguisedly anticipating junction with Lord Derby, and avowing that
free trade is their only point of difference. Lastly myself, and I think
I am with Lord Aberdeen and S. Herbert, who have nearly the same desire,
but feel that the matter is too crude, too difficult and important for
anticipating any conclusion, and that our clear line of duty is
independence, until the question of protection shall be settled.' (March
28, 1852.)

The personal composition of this section deserves a sentence. In 1835,
during Peel's short government, the whig phalanx opposed to it in the
House of Commons consisted of John Russell and seven others.[265] Of
these eight all were alive in 1851, seven of them in the then existing
cabinet; six of the eight still in the Commons. On the other hand,
Peel's cabinet began its career thus manned in the Commons--Peel,
Stanley, Graham, Hardinge, Knatchbull, Goulburn. Of these only the last
remained in his old position. Peel and Knatchbull were dead; Stanley in
the Lords and separated; Graham isolated; Hardinge in the Lords and by
way of having retired. Nor was the band very large even as recruited. Of
ex-cabinet ministers there were but three commoners; Goulburn, Herbert,
Gladstone. And of others who had held important offices there were only
available, Clerk, Cardwell, Sir J. Young, H. Corry. The Lords
contributed Aberdeen, Newcastle, Canning,[266] St. Germains and the Duke
of Argyll. Such, as counted off by Mr. Gladstone, was the Peelite staff.

Graham in April made his own position definitely liberal, or 'whig and
something more,' in so pronounced a way as to cut him off from the
Gladstonian subdivision or main body of the Peelites. Mr. Gladstone read
the speech in which this departure was taken, 'with discomfort and
surprise.' He instantly went to read to Lord Aberdeen some of the more
pungent passages; one or two consultations were held with Newcastle and
Goulburn; and all agreed that Graham's words were decisive. 'I mentioned
that some of them were coming to 5 Carlton Gardens in the course of the
afternoon (April 20); and my first wish was that now Lord Aberdeen
himself would go and tell them how we stood upon Graham's speech. To
this they were all opposed; and they seemed to fee