ABSTRACT
In the spring of 1852 Benjamin Disraeli was appointed Cabinet Minister, thus reaching the first goal of his ambition. The Queen frankly confessed to Derby that she regarded Disraeli with the greatest distrust, and was reassured only when the Prime Minister undertook to be responsible for him. Disraeli had still further increased their expectations by referring, in his electoral speeches, to “new principles,” and a new policy, based on these principles, which he intended to introduce in Parliament. William Ewart Gladstone listened with attention and with rising anger. He himself was too pugnacious a fighter not to appreciate Disraeli’s tricks of fence. When Gladstone introduced his Budget in 1853 he had to inform the House: “The income-tax has at this moment legally expired, and it will be for the Committee to consider whether or not they shall revive it.”.
