She had been among the first to urge the necessity of an expedition to Khartoum, and, when the news came of the catastrophic death of General Gordon, her voice led the chorus of denunciation which raved against the Government.

In her rage, she despatched a fulminating telegram to Mr.Gladstone, not in the usual cypher, but open; and her letter of condolence to Miss Gordon, in which she attacked her Ministers for breach of faith, was widely published.
It was rumoured that she had sent for Lord Hartington, the Secretary of State for War, and vehemently upbraided him.

"She rated me," he was reported to have told a friend, "as if I'd been a footman." "Why didn't she send for the butler ?" asked his friend.

"Oh," was the reply, "the butler generally manages to keep out of the way on such occasions." But the day came when it was impossible to keep out of the way any longer.

Mr.Gladstone was defeated, and resigned.