Note 32 — Chapter XVI · THE ILLNESS OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.

This gave rise to a curious incident. A clerk by mistake had given the Minister the message meant for the Lords. When Mr. Gladstone read out the words “Her Majesty relies on the attachment of the House of Peers to concur,” the House buzzed with excitement, and the Tories wrathfully whispered to each other that some new insult had been devised by Mr. Gladstone for the Hereditary Chamber. Mr. Gladstone had to explain how the mistake had been made, before tranquillity could be restored.