CHAPTER XVI

The exhausted volcanoes--Mr. Gladstone's failure and unpopularity--Ireland worse than before--Loss of influence in Europe--The Election of 1874--Great Conservative majority--Disraeli again Prime Minister with real power--His general position as a politician--Problems waiting to be dealt with--The relations between the Colonies and the Empire--The restoration of the authority of the law in Ireland--Disraeli's strength and Disraeli's weakness--Prefers an ambitious foreign policy--Russia and Turkey--The Eastern Question--Two possible policies and the effects of each--Disraeli's choice--Threatened war with Russia--The Berlin Conference--Peace with honour--Jingoism and fall of the Conservative party--Other features of his administration--Goes to the House of Lords as Earl of Beaconsfield and receives the Garter--Public Worship Act--Admirable distribution of patronage--Disraeli and Carlyle--Judgment of a conductor of an omnibus 232