d in this,
whether by superior information, by clearer judgment,
or by extreme good fortune, he proved to be in the
right, which ensured his ultimate triumph. But if there
had been the slightest failure, or check, or delay in
any part of the operations, it must have proved fatal
to the Government.]

[Page Head: LORD JOHN THREATENS TO RESIGN.]

But just before the news came of the surrender of the Emir
Beschir, Lord John had taken up the question in a much more
serious and decisive tone than he ever did before; and in
correspondence with Melbourne, and _viva voce_ with Palmerston,
had announced his determination to quit the Government
altogether. The occasion for this vigorous outbreak was the
arrival of a box of Foreign Office papers, in which, besides some
long rigmaroles of Metternich's, there was a proposal
(transmitted by Beauvale) for a congress for the settlement of
all disputes, together with the draft of a short answer which
Palmerston had written and sent, declining the offer. This Lord
John considered to pass all endurance, no matter whether the
congress was advisable or not; but that such an important
suggestion should be received and rejected without any
communication of it to the other members of the Government,
especially to him who was their leader in the House of Commons,
was so outrageous that he was resolved not to pass it over, and
he accordingly wrote his opinion upon it to Melbourne in the
strongest terms, recommending him to transfer the lead of the
House of Commons to Palmerston, and to dispose of his office as
he pleased, as he would no longer go on; and he said that though
there must be a Cabinet in a few days to settle about Parliament,
he should not attend any more of them. To this Melbourne wrote a
curious answer, because it was indicative of no approbation of,
or confidence in, his brother-in-law and colleague. He said he
thought Lord John had taken this up too strongly (he thinks
everything is too strong), but that he had sent his letter to
Palmerston, who would, no doubt, see him or write to him on the
subject. He then went on to say that he presumed Lord John had
well considered his determination, which would be, _ipso facto_,
the dissolution of the Government, as he would not consent to
carry it on with Palmerston as leader of the House of Commons;
that the retirement of Lord John, and the substitution of
Palmerston in suc