ABSTRACT
Canning's administration had demonstrated that he lacked the support of a substantial number of Liverpool's old cabinet, and had also seen Wellington clearly emerge as Canning's most formidable opponent. For Wellington's ministry represented a reunion of the old Liverpool party, with divisions running deep within it. Reform had much support, but opposition to it was something of a settled principle with Wellington. Wellington had long believed in the need for a London police force as Chief Secretary for Ireland he had reorganized the Dublin police and, while the measure was really Peel's, the prime minister's support was significant. During the years 1835-41 Wellington was leader of the opposition in the Lords, and on Peel's reassumption of the prime ministership in the latter year he entered the cabinet as Minister without Portfolio. There were ironies, Catholic emancipation being the most conspicuous among them.
