ming from the Queen charging
Mr. Gladstone with the formation of his first government.... After a few
minutes the blows ceased, and Mr. Gladstone resting on the handle of his
axe, looked up and with deep earnestness in his voice and with great
intensity in his face, exclaimed, 'My mission is to pacify Ireland.' He
then resumed his task, and never said another word till the tree was
down."(173) General Grey reached Hawarden the next day, bringing with him
the letter from the Queen.

_From the Queen._

_December 1st_, 1868.--Mr. Disraeli has tendered his resignation to
the Queen. The result of the appeal to the country is too evident
to require its being proved by a vote in parliament, and the Queen
entirely agrees with Mr. Disraeli and his colleagues in thinking
that the most dignified course for them to pursue, as also the
best for the public interests, was immediate resignation. Under
these circumstances the Queen must ask Mr. Gladstone, as the
acknowledged leader of the liberal party, to undertake the
formation of a new administration. With one or two exceptions, the
reasons for which she has desired General Grey (the bearer of this
letter) to explain, the Queen would impose no restrictions on Mr.
Gladstone as to the arrangement of the various offices in the
manner which he believes to be best for the public service, and
she trusts that he will find no difficulty in filling them up, or
at least the greater part of them, so that the council may be held
before the 13th. Mr. Gladstone will understand why the Queen would
wish to be spared making any arrangements of this nature for the
next few days after the 13th. The Queen adds what she said on a
similar occasion two years and a half ago to Lord Derby, that she
will not name any time for seeing Mr. Gladstone, who may wish to
have an opportunity of consulting some of his friends, before he
sees her; but that, as soon as he shall have done so, and
expresses a desire to see the Queen, she will be ready to receive
him.

(M75) One of his first letters after undertaking to form a government was
to Lord Russell, to whom he said that he looked forward with hope and
confidence to full and frequent communications, and to the benefit of his
friendship and advice. "There remains, however, a question," he went on;
"you have an experience and knowledge to which no living statesma