He put it off because he was importuned by everybody to do so, because Hayter proved to him that he would infallibly be defeated, and because there was no other way of preventing a break-up of the Government. He might have anticipated Disraeli's philippic by reverting to what he had before said, repeating his own conviction that the war afforded no reason for not going on with the Bill; but that he found so many of his own friends and such a general concurrence of feeling in the House of Commons on the other side, added to great indifference in the country, that he had thought it right to defer to those opinions, and give up his own to them. Such a defence of his conduct as this would have been more effective and more consistent with the truth, but it would have involved something like an acknowledgement of error, from which it is probable that his pride and obstinacy revolted, so he made what I think was a very bad speech. If he does bring it on again in April, I expect he will be defeated, and then retire. In any case his retirement will lead to Palmerston's elevation, as leader of the House of Commons if Lord John goes alone, as Prime Minister if Graham and Aberdeen go with him, and there seems no alternative, unless Lansdowne can be induced to replace Aberdeen, which some think not impossible, though it would only be for a short time. CHAPTER VI. Dinner to Sir Charles Napier--A Ministerial Indiscretion--Doubts as to the Reform Bill--Discontent of Lord John Russell--The Secret Correspondence with Russia--War declared--Weakness of the Government--Mr. Greville disapproves the War--Divisions in the Cabinet--Withdrawal of the Reform Bill--Blunder of the Government--The Fast Day--Licences to trade in War--Death of the Marquis of Anglesey--Mr. Gladstone's Financial Failures--Dissolution of Parties--Mr. Gladstone's Budget--Lord Cowley's Opinion of the Emperor's Position--The House of Commons supports the War--Disraeli attacks Lord John Russell--A Change of Plans--Lord John Russell's Mismanagement--Attacks on Lord Aberdeen--Popularity of the War--Government Majority in the Lords--Attitude of the German Powers--A Meeting of the Liberal Party--An Appointment cancelled--Expedition to the Crimea--English and French Policy united in Spain--Close of the Session--The Character of Lord Aberdeen's Government--Effect of the Quarrel with Russia--Lord Palmerston's Resignation--Waywardness of the House of Commons. DINNER TO SIR CHARLES NAPIER.