The country neither realised the magnitude of the crisis, nor did it perceive grounds for relying more on the Conservatives to deal with it than on the Liberals. The Opposition was greatly strengthened at this juncture by the accession of Lord Derby to the Liberal Party, and the veteran Gladstone, forgetting his resolution, six years before, to spend the rest of his years in retirement, went forth exulting on his second Midlothian Campaign. |Second Midlothian Campaign.| The walls of the Tory Jericho of the North went down before the blast of his trumpet; the Buccleuch was defeated; only nine Conservatives were returned from Scotland. The Irish vote, an important element in all the great towns, went solid for the Liberals in obedience to Parnell’s order “to vote against Benjamin Disraeli as they should vote against the enemy of their country and their race.” Instead of the majority of fifty which they counted in the old Parliament, the Conservatives returned to the new one in a minority of forty-six.
From the Collection of] [C. Wentworth Wass, Esq.
ROYAL PLATES: SPECIMENS OF SERVICES MADE FOR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN.
1. Royal Worcester Plate, emblazoned with the Royal Arms, border of light blue and gold. 2. Royal Worcester Plate, with openwork border, gilt, and having turquoise panels. Enamelled by Thomas Bott. Exhibited at the International Exhibition of 1862. 3. Plate, richly gilt, ornamented with the Royal Crown and the Arms of the City of London. Used by Her Majesty at the Civic Banquet celebrating her Accession, 1837.
There was much speculation as to whom the Queen would send for to form a Ministry. Lord Granville and Lord Hartington were the nominal leaders of the victorious party in either House, but the victory was due to Mr. Gladstone’s crusades—everybody agreed in that. On April 22 Her Majesty sent for Lord Hartington; next day he and Lord Granville were received to an audience, and thereafter all doubts were set at rest by Mr. Gladstone receiving the Royal commands.
From the Collection of] [C. Wentworth Wass, Esq.
ROYAL DESSERT PLATES.
4. From a Service made for the Prince of Wales shortly before his marriage. It has the Prince’s initials in gold, entwined with the Princess’s in flowers. 5. From a Service made for the Duke of Edinburgh on his marriage. Turquoise and gold border, with painted panels. 6. From a Service made for the Duke of Albany on his marriage. Turquoise, with monogram, birds and flowers painted in white.