It was the great question of the day whether Mr.Mildmay would or would not ask Mr.Monk to join him; and it was said by those who habitually think at every period of change that the time has now come in which the difficulties to forming a government will at last be found to be insuperable, that Mr.Mildmay could not succeed either with Mr.Monk or without him.

There were at the present moment two sections of these gentlemen,--the section which declared that Mr.Mildmay had sent for Mr.Monk, and the section which declared that he had not.

But there were others, who perhaps knew better what they were saying, by whom it was asserted that the whole difficulty lay with Mr.Gresham.

Mr.Gresham was willing to serve with Mr.Mildmay,--with certain stipulations as to the special seat in the Cabinet which he himself was to occupy, and as to the introduction of certain friends of his own; but,--so said these gentlemen who were supposed really to understand the matter,--Mr.Gresham was not willing to serve with the Duke and with Mr.Palliser.Now, everybody who knew anything knew that the Duke and Mr.Palliser were indispensable to Mr.Mildmay.And a liberal Government, with Mr.Gresham in the opposition, could not live half through a session! All Sunday and Monday these things were discussed; and on the Monday Lord de Terrier absolutely stated to the Upper House that he had received her Majesty's commands to form another government.

Mr.Daubeny, in half a dozen most modest words,--in words hardly audible, and most unlike himself,--made his statement in the Lower House to the same effect.