to bring down on him such a storm of abuse as the careers of statesmen seldom survive.  When Gladstone and the Peelites resigned, Palmerston’s Ministry ceased to be a coalition and became a Whig Cabinet.  The fact that Lord John came to Palmerston’s rescue, that he accepted without hesitation a subordinate office and served under Palmerston’s leadership in the Commons, shows that Lord John’s reluctance to serve in the first instance under Lord Aberdeen could not have been due to a scruple of pride; nor could his obstinate insistence upon his own way inside the Cabinet, of which the Peelites had complained in the early days of Lord Aberdeen’s Ministry, have been caused by a desire to make the most of his own importance.

    Lord John to Lady John Russell

    PARIS, February 23, 1855

I have accepted office in the present Ministry.  Whatever objections you may feel to this decision, I have taken it on the ground that the country is in great difficulty, and that every personal consideration ought to be waived.  I am sure I give a Liberal Government the best chance of continuing by so acting.  When I come home, I shall have weight enough in the Cabinet through my experience and position.  In the meantime I go on to Vienna....  I shall ascertain whether peace can be made on honourable terms, and having done this, shall return home.

    The office I have accepted is the Colonial; but as I do not
    lead in the Commons, it will not be at all too much for my health.

    Mr. John Abel Smith to Lady John Russell

    February_ 24, 1855

I received this morning, to my great surprise, a letter from Lord John announcing his acceptance of the Seals of the Colonial Department....  I believe it to be unquestionably the fact that by this remarkable act of self-sacrifice he has saved Lord Palmerston’s Government and preserved to the Liberal party the tenure of power....  I never saw Brooks’s more thoroughly excited than this evening, and some old hard-hearted stagers talking of Lord John’s conduct with tears in their eyes.

    Lord John to Lady John Russell

    BRUSSELS, February 25, 1855

The wish to support a Whig Government under difficulties, the desire to be reunited to my friends, with whom when separated by two benches I could have had no intimate alliance, the perilous state of the country with none but a pure Derby Government in prospect, have induced me to take this step.  No doubt my own position was better and safer as an independent man; but I have thrown all such considerations to the winds....  I am very much afraid of Vienna for the children; but if you can arrive and keep well, it will be to me a great delight to see you all....  I have just seen the King, who is very gracious and kind.  He thinks I may make peace.

    Lady John to Lord John Russell