Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 22.djvu/208

Rh boundary, and by the Oregon treaty terminated a controversy which had been a constant source of danger for many years (12 June 1846). When Peel recommended in the cabinet that the operation of the existing corn law should be suspended in order that the ports might be opened for the admission of foreign corn duty free (31 Oct. 1845), Aberdeen gave 'his cordial and unhesitating assent' to the proposal (Parl. Debates, 3rd ser. lxxxiii. 183). He was succeeded as foreign secretary by Lord Palmerston on Peel's resignation in July 1846, and for the next few years took little share in the debates in the House of Lords excepting in those on foreign affairs. In June 1850 Aberdeen spoke in the debate on Lord Stanley's motion condemning the Greek embargo, and attacked the foreign policy of the government generally (ib. 3rd ser. cxi. 1350-62). Soon after the death of Sir Robert Peel in the following month he became the recognised leader of the Peelites, and in February 1851 was invited to co-operate in the reconstruction of Lord John Russell's government, but declined, owing to their difference of opinion on the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Bill. He also refused to form an administration of his own on the same account, believing that his opinion of the bill was not shared by a majority in either house (ib. cxiv. 999-1003). He moved the rejection of the bill in the House of Lords in an admirable speech, conceived in a spirit of the wisest toleration, but was defeated by the enormous majority of 227 (ib. cxviii. 1072-93). In December 1852 Lord Derby resigned in consequence of the defeat of his ministry by the combined forces of the whigs and Peelites in the House of Commons on the house-tax resolution. Upon Lord Lansdowne's refusal to undertake the task, Aberdeen was entrusted with the formation of a new administration, and was appointed first lord of the treasury. His cabinet, as originally constituted, consisted of thirteen members, five Peelites, seven whigs, and one radical. Lord John Russell took the foreign office, Lord Palmerston the home department, the Duke of Newcastle the war and colonies, and Mr. Gladstone the chancellorship of the exchequer. Though the ministry represented a coalition of the parties which under Peel and Russell had fought against one another a few years before, there was but little conflict of opinion on subjects of domestic policy among the members of the cabinet, all of whom were in favour of free trade and moderate progress. Since the ministry of All the Talents no cabinet had contained so many brilliant politicians. The queen, writing to the king of the Belgians on 28 Dec. 1852, speaks of the formation of so brilliant and strong a cabinet as 'the realisation of the country's and our own most ardent wishes, and it deserves success, and will, I think, command great support' (, Life of the Prince Consort, ii. 483). The eastern question brought unexpected difficulties. While in perfect concord with the other great powers Aberdeen allowed himself to be gradually drawn into a separate union with France, and thus the chief security for the maintenance of peace, which depended upon the united action of the four great powers, was destroyed. Profoundly influenced by the doctrines of the peace party, he was not strong enough to withstand the pressure put on him by Sir Stratford Canning and Lord Palmerston. The cabinet 'drifted' into the Crimean war for want of a more resolute and decided policy. The government soon lost the public favour. Forced by circumstances into a policy of which he disapproved, Aberdeen was unable to feel any enthusiasm about the war. The misfortunes due to the defects of our military system were unfairly attributed to the shortcomings of the ministers. On 10 Jan. 1856 the queen, as a 'public testimony of her continued confidence' in his administration, offered him the vacant blue ribbon, which he accepted after some hesitation (ib. iii. 198 n.) On the reassembling of parliament, after a short Christmas recess, on 23 Jan. Roebuck gave notice in the House of Commons of a motion for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the conduct of the war. On the same day Lord John Russell, the leader of the government in the House of Commons, placed his resignation in Aberdeen's hands. On the 29th, after two nights' debate, the government was defeated on the motion by the decisive majority of 157 votes, and on the following day Aberdeen, treating the vote as one of want of confidence, resigned. On 7 Feb. following he was invested with the order of the Garter at Windsor. He occasionally took part in the debates in the House of Lords after his resignation, and spoke for the last time there during the debate on the Scotch Universities Bill on 13 July 1858 (Par1. Debates, 3rd ser. cli. 1359-61, 1369). He died at Argyll House, near Regent Street, London, on 14 Dec. 1860, in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and was buried at Stanmore, Middlesex, on the 21st of the same month.

Aberdeen was a spare man, of grave and formal but singularly refined manners, with studious habits and fastidious tastes. Though he was an ungraceful speaker, and his voice dull and monotonous, his speeches were