The end of Gladstone’s third government
Following the Liberal’s election defeat, the cabinet meets for the last time and unanimously agrees to resign rather than wait to meet the new parliament. ‘If there is to be an anti-Irish government the sooner it begins the sooner it will end.’ was Gladstone’s view. The formal resignation was conveyed to Queen Victoria later in the day ending Gladstone’s short-lived third administration. The Queen accepted the resignation at once without a word of regret, only commenting that it might inconvenience Lord Salisbury by bringing him back several days early from his cure.