第44章

Then there arose a legal difficulty, which caused much trouble to the Coalition Ministry.There fell vacant a certain seat on the bench of judges,--a seat of considerable dignity and importance, but not quite of the highest rank.Sir Gregory Grogram, who was a rich, energetic man, determined to have a peerage, and convinced that, should the Coalition fall to pieces, the Liberal element would be in the ascendant,--so that the woolsack would then be opened to him,--declined to occupy the place.Sir Timothy Beeswax, the Solicitor-General, saw that it was exactly suited for him, and had no hesitation in expressing an opinion to that effect.But the place was not given to Sir Timothy.It was explained to Sir Timothy that the old rule,--or rather custom, --of offering certain high positions to the law officers of the Crown, had been abrogated.Some Prime Minister, or, more probably, some collection of Cabinet Ministers, had asserted the custom to be a bad one,--and as far as right went, Sir Timothy was declared not have a leg to stand upon.He was informed that his services in the House were too valuable to be lost.Some people said that his temper was against him.Others were of the opinion that he had risen from the ranks too quickly, and that Lord Ramsden who had come from the same party, thought that Sir Timothy had not yet won his spurs.The Solicitor-General resigned in a huff, and then withdrew his resignation.Sir Gregory thought the withdrawal should not be accepted, having found Sir Timothy to be an unsympathetic colleague.Our Duke consulted the old Duke, among whose theories of official life forbearance to all colleagues and subordinates was conspicuous.

The withdrawal was therefore allowed,--but the Coalition could not after that be said to be strong in regard to its Law Officers.

But the first concerted attack against the Ministry was made in reference to the budget.Mr Monk, who had consented to undertake the duties of Chancellor of the Exchequer under the urgent entreaties of the two dukes, was of course late with the budget.

It was April before the Coalition had been formed.The budget when produced had been very popular.Budgets, like babies, are always little loves when first born.But as their infancy passes away, they also become subject to many stripes.The details are less pleasing than was the whole in the hands of the nurse.

There was a certain 'interest', very influential both by general wealth and by the presence of many members in the House, which thought that Mr Monk had disregarded its just claims.Mr Monk had refused to relieve the Brewers from their licences.Now the Brewers had for some years been agitating about their licences, --and it is acknowledged in politics that any measure is to be carried out, or left out in the cold uncarried and neglected, according to the number of deputations which may be got to press a Minister on the subject.Now the Brewers had had deputation after deputation to many Chancellors of the Exchequer; and these deputations had been most respectable,--we may almost say imperative.It was quite usual for a deputation to have four or five County members among the body, all Brewers; and the average wealth of a deputation of Brewers would buy up half London.All the Brewers in the House had been among the supporters of the Coalition, the number of Liberal and Conservative Brewers having been about equal.But now there was a fear that the 'interest'

might put itself into opposition.Mr Monk had been firm.More than one of the Ministry had wished to yield;--but he had discussed the matter with the Chief; and they were both very firm.The Duke had never doubted.Mr Monk had never doubted.

From day to day certain organs of the Press expressed an opinion, gradually increasing in strength, that however strong might be the Coalition as a body, it was weak as to finance.This was hard because not very many years ago, the Duke himself had been known as a particularly strong Minister of Finance.An amendment was moved in Committee as to the Brewer's Licences, and there was almost a general opinion that the Coalition would be broken up.

Mr Monk would certainly not remain in office if the Brewers were to be relieved from their licences.

Then it was that Phineas Finn was recalled from Ireland in red hot haste.The measure was debated for a couple of nights, and Mr Monk carried his point.The Brewers' Licences were allowed to remain, as one great gentleman from Burton declared, a 'disgrace to the fiscal sagacity of the country.' The Coalition was so far victorious,--but there was a general feeling that its strength had been impaired.