204 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1827- movement which he had promoted. Experience proved once more that, however important the influence of a great man may be in arousing and directing national opinion, he does but direct and cannot create the force, nor can his loss destroy the tendency of popular progress, which is the result of the irresistible law of growth and development. The Ministry, it was evident, could not long survive its chief. There was no one to take his place as a Parliamentary leader, and no other member of the party who commanded outside confidence. Nor could it be expected that the Whig magnates would consent to give their independent support to any man less distinguished than Canning had been ; and the Cabinet con- tained no man with a claim to such distinction. Huskisson was perhaps the ablest man in the Administration, and he, besides, was known to have been most closely associated with Canning, and to have shared most intimately in his councils ; but Huskisson was not thought of as the successor of his friend, and the weakness of his conduct in first taking office under Wellington, and then resigning without having thoroughly decided to do so, proved that he did not contain the stuff of which a righting minister in a time of extraordinary excitement ought to be made. Lord Goderich, who, as Mr. Robinson, had been Chancellor of the Exchequer, became Premier ; but his Ministry did not live long enough even to meet Parliament. On the 8th of January, 1828, he resigned ; and, after some negotiations and correspondence, and in spite of a recent declaration that he should be mad if he ever thought of undertaking an office for which he was so little fit, the Duke of Wellington became Prime Minister. The Tories might well have expected that good days were coming back to them. The duke was one of their staunchest members, as resolute in his conviction, it was supposed, as he was firm in will. He would not listen to compromise in the case of the Canning Ministry, and State and Church might alike feel secure from change under his administration. But fate is stronger than the strongest will, and the set determina-
