WILLIAM LAMBbecame Prime Minister only as the result of an extended,
political crisis that so muddled loyalties and affiliations that he found himself
in charge of the government. Difficulties started in May 1834 with the resig-
nation of four members of Grey's Cabinet over Irish policies. In July,
Melbourne was appointed Prime Minister. In November, he was dismissed
even though he still enjoyed a majority in the House of Commons. For five
months, Peel attempted to lead a minority government, but, when this exper-
iment failed, Melbourne was reinstated in office in April 1835. For nearly a
year, there was turmoil right across the political spectrum. The confusion
of 1829-30 was re-enacted. Many Tories had never forgiven Peel and
Wellington for their role in Catholic Emancipation, and the antipathy was
reciprocated. Many Whigs thought that Grey had been ousted by conspiracy,
and Grey himself certainly thought so. Irish MPs had come to distrust the
Whigs without warming to the Tories. Radical leaders like Brougham seemed
to prefer a maverick system of politics, and that made their behaviour totally
unpredictable. Fault lines ran through nearly all the major, political group-
ings. In this situation, Melbourne discovered that his history of detachment
from party suddenly became an asset. His career in office had been so short,
that he had not had the opportunity to offend too many people. Being unob-
jectionable is normally to claim only faint praise. In 1834, it was the most
prized quality.

Throughout the convulsions of 1834-5, Melbourne's conduct could hardly
be called decisive. He followed events rather than led them. The reticence,
about which his mother, sister, and wife had all complained, was still very
much in evidence. He was reluctant to accept greater responsibilities. He con-
sulted everyone about everything. In particular, he was hesitant about taking
any step without Grey's approval. At crucial moments, he was hardly a player
in the game at all. The Lichfield House agreement, for example, was
arranged without any contribution from Melbourne. He was endlessly dis-
regarded and bullied. Grey and his son, Howick, lectured him mercilessly on

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