Wellington's Government was to be progressively Liberal,
or . . . was to return to the old principle of Toryism. In the
hope of its adhering to the cause of religious liberty, and even
listening to some small commencement of parliamentary re-
form . . . the Whig party approved of Lord Rosslyn, Lord
Jersey, and Scarlett holding office under the Duke." On the
other hand, Althrop wrote to Brougham in June: "Ministers
are so weak that they are quite unfit to govern this or any other
country, and I am doubtful whether it might not be expedient
to say that, with every wish not to oppose them, yet that
unless something is done to strengthen their hands before next
session, we shall feel it our duty not to allow the country to
remain any longer in such inefficient hands, if we can prevent
it. A great deal depends on the real wishes of the Duke of
Wellington. If he wishes to form a junction with us, and is
only prevented by the bad humour of the King, it is perhaps
the most prudent thing to say nothing." ¹

Their veteran leader was at this time in splendid isolation,
lamenting over the disruption of the Whig party, which he had
tried so hard to keep together. Distasteful to many of his
reputed followers, ² he saw little prospect of any invitation to
join the ministry, to which some even of his own personal ad-
herents were transferring their allegiance The Duke of Bedford
had actually entrusted his proxy to Lord Rosslyn, now a member
of the Government, and that without any stipulation for his
leader's inclusion. ³ That the possibility of overtures from the
Prime Minister to the head of the Opposition should have
been the subject of constant rumour may well appear surpris-
ing, even if we take into account the Duke of Wellington's
conscious weakness and Lord Grey's isolated position, which
would remove the difficulty of admitting his "party" with
him. It is important, however, to remember the severity of the
blows dealt in 1827 and 1829 to rigidity of party connection;
ever-varying combinations of political groups had reduced public
affairs almost to that complexity which makes of the end of
George II's reign a kaleidoscope so dazzling to the mind. The
Duke and Lord Grey had both been in opposition to Canning,
both were believers in aristocratic government, and the session

-52-