The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

(From Echoes from 1, frl-41E.Ve.i24_,/
THE EARL OF DERBY TO THE CHANNLLOiIOr NE

EXCHEQUER.
Knowsley, Sept. 3, 1867.

Private.]

My dear Disraeli,—Now that we have had a few
weeks' leisure to recruit ourselves, it seems to me that
the time has come when we may profitably discuss
the expediency of those changes in the composition
of the Cabinet which formed the subject of my last
conversation with you before leaving town.
Since that conversation I have carefully thought
over all the points you mentioned, and have well
weighed the difficulties which you pointed out. The
latter do not appear to me to be by any means in-
superable. As you observed at the time, Pakington
is the chief stumbling-block. We must give him a
peerage, I suppose, ; but he has such an exaggerated
estimate of his own value that I am sure he will not
accept anything less than a viscountcy. It is true
that he may fairly claim to be worth as much as
Halifax was to our predecessors. In the even; of
our getting him out of the way, I do not anticipate
that Peel would raise any objections in returning
to the W. 0. With this botheration in
Abyssinia impending over us, I look upon his rein-
stallation as of primary importance. The General
is not likely to commit any blunders ; at any rate
not gross ones, and his popularity would carry us
through a gr. at deal ; but I am on perpetual thorns
about Pakington, and he is so confoundedly sure of
himself that he has begun to resent every hint I
give him.

Then about Caruarvon. I want him back very
much. I have thought over every possible combi-
nation, and I think 1 have hit upon it. Marlborough
must go. Really I hardly know why we ever put
him in ; but I shall be glad to be rid of him, and so,
I think, will you. Then we will make Buckingham
Lord President, and Carnarvon has only to step
back again into his old place.
As for Cranborne, I know that it is useless to
speak to you about him ; and, moreover, after the
many displays of his temper which he was good
enough to afford us, and his manner to Stanley in
the House, I should not be at all anxious to secure
him. Carnarvon pitched it into us rather strong,
but he was temperate in comparison with Cran-
borne, and he was never cantankerous.
Stanley mentioned these changes at Balmoral, and
they were well received, so I must ask you to take
an early opportunity of letting me know your opinion
about them.

Yours very faithfully, DERBY.
The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
Hughenden Manor.

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER TO THE
EARL OF DERBY.

Private.] Hughenden Manor, Sept. 6, 1867.
My dear Lord Derby,—l have given my best at-
tention to your letter of the 3d, and I am glad to
say that I agree with you in nearly every point.
With respect to Lord Cranborne, it would be, as
you say, superfluous to make any suggestion having
for its object his return to the Cabinet. But I
have a suggestion to make concerning him, never-
theless. It is certainly a pity that the services of
so talented a young man should be lost to his
country. What do you say to sending him to India
in the place of Lawrence ? He would make an ex-
cellent Governor-General, and we should not be
troubled with his presence in the House of Com-
mons. You are well aware that, though I did my
best to keep matters smooth, we never did get on
well together, and latterly his demeanour has been
arrogant and offensive to the last degree.
I sincerely endorse all you say about Pakington ;
but, as I told you in London, I feel very doubtful
about your persuading him to resign even for a
viscountcy. I believe he thinks he ought to be a
duke. The only way that I see is to affront him
seriously; but he is so thick-skinned that even then
it is doubtful whether you would succeed. Corry
says that he is being driven frantic by P.'s constant
suggestions; that Sir John is always sending him
little notes containing excee lingly novel ideas ; and
that he (Corry) wishes that you would give P. the
command of the Abyssinian expedition, with strict
injunctions to the next iu command to offer him at
once to King Theodore in exchange for Consul
Cameron, and leave him with the barbarians.
I have nothing to say against your propmalalnut
Carnarvon. I don't set quite the high value upon
him that you are inclined to do ; but if you are so
magnanimous as to forgive his attacks, and if he is
going to be a good boy for the future, I for one shall
welcome his return with pleasure.
Believe me, my dear Lord Derby,
Very faithfully yours,
The Earl of Derby, K.G., &c. B. DISRAELI.

THE EARL OF DERBY TO SIR JOHN PAKINGTON.

Private.] Knowsley, Sept. 8, 1867.
My dear Pakington,—lt has long been my con-
viction that the zeal and ability which you have
displayed in the discharge of your official duties in
the various departments of the Government to
which it has given me great satisfaction to re-
commend you to her Majesty for appointment
are such as to deserve more distinguished recog-
nition than you have hitherto received. The
G. C. B. was but A poor reward for your
services in 1858-59, and I have reason to believe
that any mention of your name for further honours
would be well received in a high quarter. I am quite
prepared, therefore, in the event of your concur-
rence, to propose to her Majesty to grant to you the
dignity of a Viscount of the United Kingdom, and
I should be delighted to act upon any suggestion
you might make as to the title which you would
prefer to assume.

Your elevation to the Peerage would, of course,
necessitate the relinquishment of your present post;
but, though I should be thus depriving the Cabinet
of one of its most useful members, I do not think
that I should be justified on that account in defer-
ring the due reward of your merits ; and must there-
fore, though with much regret, resign myself to the
sacrifice.—Believe me, dear Sir John, faithfully
yours, DERBY.
The Right Hon. Sir J. Pakington, G.C.8., &c.