³⁵⁷ Gladstone had informed his colleagues of his decision to dissolve Parliament on 26 January. The following morning, he issued his election manifesto. The move took Disraeli by surprise.

³⁵⁸ Disraeli wrote to Lady Chesterfield, ‘I agree with Carnarvon that Gladstone's Manifesto is very ill-written, but I do not agree with Carnarvon that it is not in his usual style. I think his usual style the worst of any public man’ (Zetland, I, p. 49).

³⁵⁹ After the meeting, Carnarvon sent a note to Salisbury: ‘I trust before going [to Bretby] how earnestly I hope nothing will separate our political relations. Our personal friendship cannot, I believe, be shaken by matters as those with which we are now dealing [. . .]. I dread the political separation and even the consequences of it’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 8 February 1874: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E).

³⁶⁰ Meredith White Townsend (1831–1911), editor of the Spectator (1860–1898).

³⁶¹ The Times, 9 February 1874, p. 9. In congratulating Carnarvon on his appointment as Colonial Secretary, Townsend stated, ‘the success of the whole arrangement is the more important because to my savage annoyance your people are probably in for a generation’ (Townsend to Carnarvon, 26 February 1874: CP, BL 60776, fos 3–4).

³⁶² Carnarvon reiterated his opinion from Bretby: ‘I still incline on the whole (and it is a question to be decided on the balance of considerations) to my general view of yesterday’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 9 February 1874: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E).

³⁶³ Heathcote had written to Carnarvon two days earlier, ‘Salisbury, after a full discourse, gave way and I think the reason is that he is satisfied that it is right though his inclinations are still the other way’ (Heathcote to Carnarvon, 14 February 1874: CP, BL 61073, fo. 21). Carnarvon had come to a similar decision, admitting, ‘I am, as I think of the matter, often in many minds but I conclude on the whole [. . .] it is probably right to accept office’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 16 February 1874: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E). He proposed to stay at Bretby until he heard from Disraeli.

³⁶⁴ Disraeli had telegraphed Carnarvon the previous day to call on him in London ‘on urgent business as soon as you can’ (Disraeli to Carnarvon, 18 February 1874: CP, BL 60763, fo. 19).

³⁶⁵ At Windsor, the Queen had stated her wish that the Cabinet should consist of twelve members, six from each House (Queen Victoria, Journal, 18 February 1874: Royal Archives, Z/380).

³⁶⁶ Northcote as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Hardy at the War Office, and George Ward Hunt at the Admiralty. ‘It will be equally pleasant and curious’, Carnarvon observed, ‘if our old Ch.Ch. [Christ Church, Oxford] generation find themselves all members of the same Government’ (Carnarvon to Sandon, 19 February 1874: Harrowby Papers, 2nd series, lii, fo. 106).

³⁶⁷ George Ward Hunt (1825–1877), Con. MP for Northamptonshire North (1857–1877), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1868), First Lord of the Admiralty (1874–1877).

³⁶⁸ James Lowther (1840–1904), Under-Secretary for the Colonies (1874–1878). See Disraeli to Carnarvon, 24 February 1874: CP, BL 60763, fo. 20.

³⁶⁹ Maj.-Gen. Sir Garnet Wolseley (1833–1913) was in charge of British troops on the Gold Coast during the Second Ashanti War. The capital, Kumasi, was captured on 5 February 1874 and King Koffee agreed to appoint commissioners to conclude a treaty. See Sir G. Arthur (ed.), The Letters of Lord and Lady Wolseley, 1870–1911 (London, 1922), p. 18.

³⁷⁰ For Carnarvon's policy on Gold Coast affairs, see J.D. Hargreaves, Prelude to the Partition of West Africa (London, 1963), pp. 170–174.

³⁷¹ In their election manifesto, the Conservatives had indicated more freedom for licensed victuallers on the sale of strong drink. Cross, the Home Secretary, who was in charge of the bill, disappointed their expectations.

³⁷² William Connor Magee (1821–1891), Bishop of Peterborough (1868–1891), Archbishop of York (1891).

³⁷³ The Public Worship Regulation Bill ‘on the present state of the laws regulating Divine Service in the Church’.

³⁷⁴ For an account of the meeting, see Magee's letter to Carnarvon in J.C. MacDonnell, The Life and Correspondence of William Connor Magee, 2 vols (London, 1896), I, p. 2.

³⁷⁵ Sir William Grey (1818–1878), Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1866–1871), Governor of Jamaica (1874–1877).

³⁷⁶ Hansard, CCXVIII, 19 March 1874, cols 22–25.

³⁷⁷ Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, had married Princess Marie Alexandrovna, daughter of Czar Alexander II, in St Petersburg on 23 January. They had arrived back at Gravesend the previous day (The Times, 12 March 1874, p. 8).

³⁷⁸ Capt. John Hawley Glover RN (1829–1885), who had served in Lagos, achieved widespread popularity in Britain for his part in the second Ashanti War. He raised a force to assist the commander, Wolseley, much to the latter's annoyance. Carnarvon praised him for his actions and invited him to Highclere. See Lady E.R. Glover, Life of Sir John Hawley Glover (London, 1897), pp. 220–221.

³⁷⁹ Vote of Thanks to Forces in Ashanti War: Hansard, CCXVIII, 30 March 1874, Grey, col. 394, Carnarvon, cols 394–398.

³⁸⁰ Disraeli was at Bretby from 1 to 11 April.

³⁸¹ Carnarvon told Disraeli, ‘I am afraid that there are one, two or three large Colonial subjects ripening so fast that I shall have to trouble the Cabinet with them at an early date’ (Carnarvon to Disraeli, 11 April 1874 (copy): CP, BL 60793, fo. 24).

³⁸² In his Budget speech in the Commons the following day, Northcote acknowledged Gladstone's economical management of the Ashanti War (see Lang, Life, Letters and Diaries of Sir Stafford Northcote, II, pp. 59–62).

³⁸³ Two Commissioners, Commodore J.G. Goodenough RN and F.L. Layard, HM Consul in Fiji, had been appointed to report on ‘various questions connected with the Fiji Islands’. A telegram received from them recommended that Fiji should become a colony. Carnarvon informed the Lords on 20 April ‘that it was not very acceptable for the Commissioners to take such a step on their own responsibility’ (Hansard, CCXVII, cols 909–911).

³⁸⁴ Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853–1884), youngest son of Queen Victoria; Princess Beatrice (1857–1944), youngest daughter of Queen Victoria, married to Prince Henry of Battenburg (1885).

³⁸⁵ See account of meeting in Carnarvon's letter to his mother, Henrietta, 3rd Countess of Carnarvon, 17 April 1874: CP, BL 61043, fo. 146.

³⁸⁶ The week before, the bishops, meeting at Lambeth, had submitted a new Public Worship Regulation Bill. It was introduced in the Lords on 20 April and, because of Cabinet divisions, was subsequently sent to a Cabinet committee (Buckle, Disraeli, V, pp. 321–322).

³⁸⁷ James Anthony Froude (1818–1894), historian, editor of Fraser's Magazine (1860–1874), literary executor for Thomas Carlyle.

³⁸⁸ In the event, it was another decade before Froude visited Australia.

³⁸⁹ See The Times, 4 May 1874, p. 8.

³⁹⁰ Colonial Clergy Bill, second reading: Hansard, CCXVIII, 7 May 1874, Blachford, cols 1804–1805, Carnarvon, cols 1805–1806.

³⁹¹ George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert (1866–1923), Viscount Porchester, Carnarvon's only son by his first marriage; later 5th Earl of Carnarvon (1890).

³⁹² In May 1862, Bismarck was appointed ambassador at Paris. He came to England to see the Crystal Palace and also to meet Gladstone and Palmerston. According to Disraeli, Bismarck told him, ‘I shall declare war on Austria, dissolve the German Confederation and subjugate the middle and smaller states and give Germany national unity under the control of Prussia’. On 23 September he was in Berlin and, at the age of forty-seven, was appointed Prime Minister of Prussia. See W. Richter, Bismarck (London, 1964), pp. 75–76.

³⁹³ Public Worship Regulation Bill, second reading: Hansard, CCXIX, 11 May 1874, cols 2–65.

³⁹⁴ Count Petr Andreievich Shuvalov (1827–1889), Head of Secret Police (1866); he arranged the marriage between Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Alexander II's daughter, Marie.

³⁹⁵ Count Aleksandr Adlerberg (1819–1889), Second Secretary to Shuvalov.

³⁹⁶ Augustus William Spencer Loftus (1817–1904), Secretary of Berlin Legation, attended Czar Alexander II on his visit to London (1874), Governor of New South Wales (1879–1885).

³⁹⁷ John O'Keefe (1827–1877), Lib. MP for Dungarvan (1874–1877), supporter of home rule.

³⁹⁸ Sir William Henry Gregory (1817–1892), Con. MP for Dublin (1842–1847), Lib.-Con. MP for Co. Galway (1857–1871), Governor of Ceylon (1871–1876).

³⁹⁹ Church Patronage (Scotland) Bill, second reading: Hansard, CCXIX, 2 June 1874, cols 809–846.

⁴⁰⁰ The old Colonial Office building in Downing Street had been condemned in 1837. A new block in King Street, designed by Sir Gilbert G. Scott to accommodate the Foreign Office, the India Office, and the Colonial Office, was sanctioned in 1868. The Colonial Office transferred to its new site in 1876. See B.L. Blakeley, The Colonial Office, 1868–1892 (Durham, NC, 1972), pp. 18–19; E. Walford (ed.), Old and New London: a narrative of the history, the people and its places, vol. 3 (London, 1876), pp. 392–393.

⁴⁰¹ Hardy at the War Office attempted to lay claim to the Colonial Office building. Before the Cabinet meeting, Carnarvon offered to discuss the matter with Disraeli, having already talked to Hardy (Carnarvon to Disraeli, 6 June 1874: Hughenden Papers, 100/1, fo. 46). Hardy recorded, ‘Carnarvon was very hot on the subject’ (Johnson, p. 209). Carnarvon moved into the new building in January 1876.

⁴⁰² This entry should be for Tuesday 16 June.

⁴⁰³ A condition of British Columbia joining the Confederation in 1871 was a subsidy towards construction of a Pacific Railway within ten years. Lord Dufferin, the Governor-General, wanted Macdonald's resignation, but it was not until November 1873, after a vote of severe censure was passed in Parliament, that he resigned. Alexander Mackenzie was appointed as the new prime minister by Dufferin. See A. Lyall, The Life of the Marquis of Dufferin and Ava, 2 vols (London, 1905), I, pp. 224–227; W.L. Morton, The Critical Years, pp. 275–277.

⁴⁰⁴ Gilbert Malcolm Sproat (1834–1913), agent to British Columbia (1872–1876).

⁴⁰⁵ The conference, attended by all European countries, was intended to create firm guidelines based on an international code ‘to improve the laws and usages of warfare’.

⁴⁰⁶ Revd W.W. Jones, Bishop of Capetown.

⁴⁰⁷ Revd Charles Perry, Bishop of Melbourne.

⁴⁰⁸ Revd Oland Crosse, Vicar of St John the Baptist Church, Pawlett, Somerset since 1827.

⁴⁰⁹ Dr John Hamilton (1809–1875), surgeon to Queen Victoria (1874).

⁴¹⁰ Alexander Mackenzie (1822–1892), first Lib. Prime Minister of Canada (1873–1878).

⁴¹¹ Frederick Temple Blackwood (1826–1902), Earl of Dufferin (1871), 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava (1888), Under-Secretary of State for India (1864–1866) and for War (1866), Chancellor, Duchy of Lancaster (1868–1872), Governor-General of Canada (1872–1878), ambassador at St Petersburg (1879–1881) and Constantinople (1881–1884), Viceroy of India (1884–1888). Dufferin, who was on a ten-day fishing holiday when Carnarvon's telegram was sent, displayed a more favourable attitude towards Mackenzie. He informed Carnarvon, ‘the poor man never dreamt of adopting a disrespectful tone [. . .] and Mackenzie is not a statesman. When he first took office he was so anxious to disparage Macdonald and his predecessors that he could not refrain from denouncing in wild and ill considered terms [. . .] their general Railway policy’ (Dufferin to Carnarvon, 9 July 1874: Dufferin Papers, D 1071/41/2, fo. 222).

⁴¹² The Endowed Schools (Amendment) Bill introduced into the Commons on 14 July 1871 was aimed at abolishing the Endowed Schools Commission, a body set up by the previous Liberal government. The Commissioners were charged with altering the trusts of and settling schemes for endowed schools. See Gordon, P., Selection for Secondary Education (London, 1980), pp. 39–42Google Scholar.

⁴¹³ Henry John Roby (1830–1915), formerly Secretary of the Endowed Schools Commission (1869–1974) and Commissioner (1872–1874). Lib. MP for Eccles (1890–1895).

⁴¹⁴ William Rolle Malcolm (1840–1923), Assistant Under-Secretary at the Colonial Office (1874–1878).

⁴¹⁵ The third reading of the Public Worship Regulation Bill took place the following day, when Carnarvon spoke in support of it: Hansard, CCXX, 25 June 1874, cols 400–402.

⁴¹⁶ By the following day, Froude had several reservations about undertaking the task. He wrote to Carnarvon, ‘I don't like the notion of mixing myself up in this Cape Commission unless in a distinct capacity [. . .]. I shall say frankly that I was collecting information which I should probably communicate to you and no suspicion would attach to me. At the Cape especially, even with nothing in writing about me to Sir H. Barkly, I shall feel like a Spy. I have paid no attention to internal Cape politics, and no one will be able to guess what induced me to meddle with them’ (Froude to Carnarvon, 25 June 1874: CP, BL 60798, fos 12–13).

⁴¹⁷ Derby to Carnarvon, 22 June 1874: CP, BL 60765, fo. 69.

⁴¹⁸ Froude, in writing to Carnarvon on the latter's appointment, had contemplated a visit to Australia and New Zealand to see ‘whether there is any possibility of drawing them closer to us’. In reply, Carnarvon suggested that, first of all, Froude should visit South Africa ‘and give the Government what help he could to understand the condition of affairs there’. See W.H. Dunn, James Anthony Froude, 2 vols (Oxford, 1961–1963), II, p. 390.

⁴¹⁹ Carnarvon had asked Montagu Corry, Disraeli's private secretary, if the Cabinet could discuss Fiji, and attempt to settle the question ‘as I am to be questioned on the subject in the Lords this week’ (Carnarvon to Corry, 6 July 1874: Hughenden Papers, dep. 100/1, fo. 58; see also Vincent, Derby, II, p. 174).

⁴²⁰ Sir Hercules Robinson (1824–1897), Governor of Ceylon (1865–1872) and of New South Wales (1872–1879).

⁴²¹ The adjourned debate on the bill took place on 15 July, when it was read a second time: Hansard, CCXXI, cols 14–89.

⁴²² On the cession of Fiji to the British Crown: Hansard, CCXXI, 17 July 1874, Carnarvon, cols 179–189, Kimberley, cols 192–195.

⁴²³ Gladstone fiercely opposed the principle of the bill on the grounds of its spiritual absolutism. See Gladstone to Granville, 7 May 1874, in Ramm, 1952, II, pp. 451–453. He countered with six resolutions, but withdrew them on 16 July (see J.P. Parry, Democracy and Religion: Gladstone and the Liberal Party (Cambridge, 1986), pp. 414–416).

⁴²⁴ Salisbury wrote from the India Office, ‘I am very glad you were out of it for it would have annoyed you and done your health no good—and your presence would not have retrieved the day. We were too thoroughly overmatched’ (Salisbury to Carnarvon, 25 July 1874: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E). Disraeli dropped the controversial clause on retaining the Church character of an endowed school. See Diary, 28 July 1874 for Carnarvon's discussion with Salisbury on the bill.

⁴²⁵ ‘Carnarvon was much wanted today in the most critical Cabinet of the session. However, all has ended well apparently’ (Zetland, I, p. 117).

⁴²⁶ See Queen's Speech: Hansard, CCXXII, 5 February 1875, col. 4.

⁴²⁷ The Endowed Schools (Amendment) Bill received the Royal Assent on 5 August.

⁴²⁸ William Wellington Cairns (1828–1888), Governor of Queensland (1874–1875). He was Hugh Cairns's half-brother.

⁴²⁹ Edward Harold Browne (1811–1891), Bishop of Winchester (1873–1890).

⁴³⁰ Hansard, CCXXI, 4 August 1874, Salisbury, cols 1231–1232, Winchester, cols 1234–1238, Carnarvon, cols 1242–1245, Cairns, cols 1246–1249. Contents 32, Not-Contents 44.

⁴³¹ See The Times, 6 August 1874, p. 6, and The Public Worship Bill, third reading: Hansard, CCXXI, 5 August 1874, Disraeli, cols 1354–1360. Salisbury wrote to Carnarvon afterwards, ‘To show you how much I have improved in style under your teaching, I enclose my reply to a strange note I received from D. What impertinences he has been saying about me I cannot conceive’ (Salisbury to Carnarvon, 5 August 1874: CP, BL 60758, fo. 139). Carnarvon replied, ‘You are very good to let me talk to you as I do often say disagreeable things and make idle criticisms’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 5 August 1874: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E).

⁴³² There was considerable speculation at the time that the three main Conservative rebels – Salisbury, Carnarvon, and Hardy – would have to resign. See J. Bentley, Ritualism and Politics in Victorian Britain: the attempt to legislate for belief (Oxford, 1978), p. 74.

⁴³³ See Diary, 8 August 1874. Harcourt had made a damaging speech on Gladstone in the Commons debate on the Public Worship Regulation Bill the previous day (see A.G. Gardiner, The Life of Sir William Harcourt, 2 vols (London, 1923), I, pp. 276–277).

⁴³⁴ Montagu William Lowry Corry (1838–1903), private secretary to Disraeli (1866–1881), created 1st Baron Rowton (1881).

⁴³⁵ Arthur Penrhyn Stanley (1815–1881), Dean of Westminster (1864–1881).

⁴³⁶ i.e., allowing Carnarvon discretion on Fiji affairs. Disraeli to Carnarvon, 8 August 1874: CP, BL 60763, fos 39–42.

⁴³⁷ Lord George Francis Hamilton (1845–1927), Con. MP for Middlesex (1868–1884) and for Ealing (1885–1906), Under-Secretary of State for India (1874–1878), Vice- President, Committee of Council on Education (1878–1880), First Lord of the Admiralty (1885–1886).

⁴³⁸ Gilbert Henry Chandos Leigh (1851–1884), Lib. MP for Warwickshire South (1880–1884).

⁴³⁹ Henry North Holroyd (1832–1909), 3rd Earl of Sheffield (1876), diplomat (1852–1856), Con. MP for Sussex East (1857–1865).

⁴⁴⁰ Gen. Sir Alfred Horsford (1818–1885), the British delegate to the Conference, had been given strict orders to refer every point to the Government. After the report was received, no further action was taken to implement it.

⁴⁴¹ Revd and Hon. Orlando Forester (1813–1894), brother of Lady Chesterfield and Lady Bradford. Rector of Gedling, Notts, of which Carnarvon was patron. Disraeli had recently appointed him Canon Resident and Chancellor of York (Blake, Disraeli, pp. 685–686).

⁴⁴² Carnarvon, who was at Gedling at the time, told his mother, ‘I am obliged to go to Bretby today as Disraeli is there and it is a matter of consequence to me to see him on various Government business’ (Carnarvon to Henrietta, 3rd Countess of Carnarvon, 26 September 1874: CP, BL 61044, fo. 157).

⁴⁴³ Sir Richard Horner Paget (1832–1908), Con. MP for Somerset East (1865–1868), for Mid-Somerset (1868–1885), and for Wells (1885–1895).

⁴⁴⁴ Robinson sent a telegram on 30 September stating that the King of Fiji had signed an unconditional cession of the country. It was not received until 16 October. See Hardinge, II, p. 134; Carnarvon to Disraeli, 17 October 1874 (copy): CP, BL 60763, fos 52–53.

⁴⁴⁵ Carnarvon also wrote to Ward Hunt at the Admiralty requesting naval support: ‘I have seen my way towards the abolition of Slavery on the Gold Coast’ (Carnarvon to Ward Hunt, 18 October 1874: CP, TNA, PRO 30/6/5, fo. 25).

⁴⁴⁶ Robert George Wyndham Herbert (1831–1905), Colonial Secretary for Queensland (1859), first Premier of Queensland (1860–1865), Permanent Under-Secretary for the Colonies in London (1871–1892), KCB (1882), Agent-General, Tasmania (1893–1896).

⁴⁴⁷ ‘I have just telegraphed to Carnarvon. He seems very busy annexing provinces to the Empire’ (Disraeli to Lady Bradford, 18 October 1874, in Zetland, I, p. 161).

⁴⁴⁸ John William Colenso (1814–1883), Bishop of Natal (1853–1863) and of Cape Town (1863–1883).

⁴⁴⁹ Langalibalele, a Kaffir chief, had defied a Natal firearms registration order. Pine, the governor, decided to make an example of him, ordering the destruction of the chieftain's land stock. Captured by the Cape Mountain Police, Langalibalele was tried in a special court presided over by Pine himself and sentenced to banishment. This move was approved by Sir Theophilus Shepstone, Secretary for Native Affairs, and the Natal colonists. Colenso came to England in late September, to urge Carnarvon to ensure that justice was done to Langalibalele (see G.W. Cox, The Life of John William Colenso, 2 vols (London, 1888), II, pp. 389–392). After their first meeting, Carnarvon confessed, ‘I was not prejudiced in his favour but I am bound to say that he did his part fairly well. His arguments were all reasonable and his facts fairly stated’ (Diary, 5 October 1874).

⁴⁵⁰ Sir Theophilus Shepstone (1817–1893), Secretary of State for Native Affairs, Natal (1856), Administrator of the Transvaal (1877–1879) and of Zululand (1884).

⁴⁵¹ George Sclater-Booth (1826–1894), Con. MP for Hampshire North (1857–1887), President of the Local Government Board (1874–1880), 1st Baron Basing (1887).

⁴⁵² Dufferin to Carnarvon, 12 November 1874: Dufferin Papers, D/1071/H1/3, fo. 80. Ambroise-Dydime Lépine, a Canadian accused of committing a murder in 1873, had been sentenced to death a few weeks earlier. The French Catholics were demanding commutation and caused a government crisis.

⁴⁵³ The Prince had been promoted Grand Master of the Order in England in 1874, and became Past Master on the resignation of Lord Ripon in September 1875 (S. Lee, King Edward VII, 2 vols (London, 1925–1927), II, pp. 291, 568).

⁴⁵⁴ Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville (1794–1868), Clerk of the Council in Ordinary, author of A Journal of the Reigns of King George IV and King William IV, edited by Henry Reeve and recently published.

⁴⁵⁵ Edward John Eyre (1815–1901), Governor of Jamaica (1864–1866). Eyre put down a riot at Morant Bay, killing and wounding many people. As Colonial Secretary in 1866, Carnarvon condemned the methods used by Eyre to quell the insurrection. See B.A. Knox, ‘The British Government and the Governor Eyre controversy’, Historical Journal, 19 (1976), pp. 888–894.

⁴⁵⁶ Derby wrote after the Cabinet, ‘The governor, Sir B. Pine, to be recalled’ (Vincent, Derby, II, p. 183).

⁴⁵⁷ Samuel Plimsoll (1824–1898), Lib. MP for Derby (1868–1880), a vigorous campaigner for the compulsory survey of merchant shipping and the creation of a load line. An Act of 1873 had failed to meet Plimsoll's demands. Sir Charles Adderley, an incompetent President of the Board of Trade, promised further legislation. See Jones, N., The Plimsoll Sensation: the great campaign to save lives at sea (London, 2006), pp. 131–135Google Scholar.

⁴⁵⁸ At the end of the year, Derby wrote to Lyons, ‘I cannot make head or tail of French internal politics, and presume that most Frenchmen are in the same condition’ (T.W. Legh, Baron Newton, Lord Lyons: a record of British diplomacy (London, 1913), p. 326).

⁴⁵⁹ Carnarvon sent a draft to the Queen of his despatch proposing a conditional pardon for Langalibalele, following ‘a very unfavourable judgement and the unquestionably wrong and illegal procedure at Natal’ (Carnarvon to Queen Victoria, 28 November 1874: Royal Archives, O32/24).

⁴⁶⁰ Carnarvon announced in the Lords that the Gold Coast Governor, G.C. Strahan, was instructed to carry out this policy of the abolition of slavery. He wrote to the Queen, ‘Every slave will be at liberty to leave his master without assigning any cause for so doing’ (Carnarvon to Queen Victoria, 26 November 1874: Royal Archives, P24/128). The Gold Coast would be annexed and made a Crown Colony independent of Sierra Leone. Carnarvon had been persuaded by philanthropists to abolish slavery. See Hargreaves, Prelude to the Partition of West Africa, pp. 171–172.

⁴⁶¹ ‘Anniversary meeting of the Royal Society’, The Times, 1 December 1874, p. 7. Carnarvon was elected Fellow on 8 April 1875.

⁴⁶² Before the meeting Carnarvon had told Salisbury, ‘I fear we are on the verge of changes, but I see my way to combinations that might in the end strengthen us. Nil desperandum’ (Carnarvon to Salisbury, 30 November 1874: Hatfield House Papers, 3M/E).

⁴⁶³ Derby agreed with Salisbury. In his diary, Derby wrote, ‘I am inclined to think that Salisbury's aversion to the notion of having Richmond for chief is due to the fact that the Duke is entirely under the influence of Cairns. S. [Salisbury] being a strong high churchman, fears nothing more than that Cairns, who is low, should virtually make bishops and guide ecclesiastical policy: he would prefer a neutral, like myself, whom he might hope in some degree to guide’ (Vincent, Derby, II, p. 184).