by was
therefore summoned by your Majesty on the 25th, and at once applied
himself, as is well known, to every measure which seemed to give him a
hope of success in constructing a government. On the 27th he apprised your
Majesty of his failure in these efforts; and on March 3rd the cabinet of
Lord Russell returned to office. (This recital is founded on Lord Derby's
statement in the House of Lords, Feb. 28, 1851.) On Jan. 29, 1855, the
government of Lord Aberdeen was defeated in the House of Commons on a
motion made by an independent member of their own party and supported by
twenty-five of the liberal members present. Though this defeat resembles
the one last named in that it cannot be said to be due to the concerted
action of the opposition as a party, Lord Derby, being summoned by your
Majesty on the 1st of Feb. proceeded to examine and ascertain in every
quarter the means likely to be at his disposal for rendering assistance in
the exigency, and it was not until Feb. 3 that he receded from his
endeavours.

Cabinet Of 1880-1885

_Page __630_

_First lord of the treasury, chancellor of the exchequer_, W. E.
Gladstone.
_Lord chancellor_, Lord Selborne.
_President of the council_, Earl Spencer.
_Lord privy seal_, Duke of Argyll.
_Home secretary_, Sir W. V. Harcourt.
_Foreign secretary_, Earl Granville.
_Colonial secretary_, Earl of Kimberley.
_War secretary_, H. C. E. Childers.
_First lord of the admiralty_, Earl of Northbrook.
_Indian secretary_, Marquis of Hartington.
_President of the board of trade_, Joseph Chamberlain.
_Chief secretary for Ireland_, W. E. Forster.
_Chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster_, John Bright.
_President of the local government board_, J. G. Dodson.

On the resignation of the Duke of Argyll, April 1881, Lord Carlingford
(Mr. Chichester Fortescue) became lord privy seal.

In May 1882, Earl Spencer became lord-lieutenant of Ireland. On Mr.
Forster's resignation he was succeeded by Lord Frederick Cavendish, and
then by Mr. G. O. Trevelyan, neither of whom had a seat in the cabinet.

On the resignation of Mr. Bright in July 1882, Mr. Dodson became
chancellor of the duchy, and S