Note 111 — Chapter V · MONARCHY

In 1872, Disraeli said, after stating that Lord Derby’s successor was no enemy to Russian aggression, “... I speak of what I know, not of what I believe, but of what I have evidence in my possession to prove, that the Crimean War would never have happened if Lord Derby had remained in office....” Lord Derby’s error in resigning in 1853 he always deplored; just as he regretted equally his rash acceptance of office during the previous year, and his more fatal timidity in shrinking from assuming it in 1855.