the ten pound franchise as to be
thrown into a temper of general hostility to a government which
did not recognise its finality and sanctity. He pursued our modest
Reform bill of 1866 with an implacable hostility, and really
supplied the whole brains of the opposition. So effective were his
speeches that, during this year, and this year only, he had such a
command of the House as had never in my recollection been
surpassed. Nor was there any warrant for imputing to him
dishonesty of purpose or _arriere-pensee_. But his position was
one, for the moment, of personal supremacy, and this to such an
extent that, when all had been reconciled and the time for his
peerage came, I pressed his viscountcy on the sovereign as a
tribute to his former elevation, which, though short-lived, was
due to genuine power of mind, as it seemed to me that a man who
had once soared to those heights trodden by so few, ought not to
be lost in the common ruck of official barons.

The first trial of strength arose upon a device of one of the greatest of
the territorial whigs, seconded by a much more eminent man in the ranks of
territorial tories. Lord Grosvenor announced a motion that they would not
proceed with the franchise, until they were in possession of the
ministerial intentions upon seats. Lord Stanley, the son of the tory
leader, seconded the motion. Any other form would have served equally well
as a test of conflicting forces. The outlook was clouded. Mr. Brand, the
skilful whip, informed the cabinet, that there were three classes of
disaffected liberals, who might possibly be kept in order; first, those
who, although opposed to reform, were averse to a change of government;
next, those who doubted whether ministers really intended to deal with the
seats at all; and finally, those who felt sure that when they came to deal
with seats, they would be under the baleful influence of Bright. The first
of the three sections could best be kept right by means of a stiff line
against Grosvenor and Stanley, and the other two sections by the simple
production of the seats bill before taking the committee on franchise. The
expert's counsels were followed. Mr. Gladstone told the House that Lord
Grosvenor's motion would be treated as a vote of want of confidence, but
that he would disclose the whole plan as soon as the franchise bill had
passed its second reading. The mutterings only grew lou