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 Brewers' 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 arose a general feeling that its strength had been impaired..