On the fall of the Whig government in 1841, succeeded by that of Sir Robert Peel, Mr. Gladstone was appointed vice-president of the Board of Trade and master of the Mint, and naturally became more prominent as a parliamentary debater,—­not yet a parliamentary leader.  But he was one of the most efficient of the premier’s lieutenants, a tried and faithful follower, a disciple, indeed,—­as was Peel himself of Canning, and Canning of Pitt.  He addressed the House in all the important debates,—­on railways, on agricultural interests, on the abolition of the corn laws, on the Dissenters’ Chapel Bills, on sugar duties,—­a conservative of conservatives, yet showing his devotion to the cause of justice in everything except justice to the Catholics in Ireland.  He was opposed to the grant to Maynooth College, and in consequence resigned his office when the decision of the government was made known,—­a rare act of that conscientiousness for which from first to last he has been pre-eminently distinguished in all political as well as religious matters.  His resignation of office left him free to express his views; and he disclaimed, in the name of law, the constitution, and the history of the country, the voting of money to restore and strengthen the Roman Catholic Church of Ireland.  In deference to Sir Robert Peel and the general cause of education his opposition was not bitter or persistent; and the progressive views which have always marked his career led him to support the premier in his repeal of the corn laws, he having been, like his chief, converted to the free-trade doctrines of Cobden.  But the retirement of such prominent men as the Duke of Buccleuch and Lord Stanley (of Alderley) from his ministry, as protectionists, led to its breaking up in 1846 and an attempt to form a new one under Lord John Russell, which failed; and Sir Robert Peel resumed direction of a government pledged to repeal the corn laws of 1815.  As the Duke of Newcastle was a zealous protectionist, under whose influence Mr. Gladstone had been elected member of Parliament, the latter now resigned his seat as member for Newark, and consequently remained without a seat in that memorable session of 1846 which repealed the corn laws.

The ministry of Sir Robert Peel, though successful in passing the most important bill since that of Parliamentary reform in 1832, was doomed; as we have already noted in the Lecture on that great leader, it fell on the Irish question, and Lord John Russell became the head of the government.  In the meantime, Mr. Gladstone was chosen to represent the University of Oxford in Parliament,—­one of the most distinguished honors which he ever received, and which he duly prized.  As the champion of the English Church represented by the University, and as one of its greatest scholars, he richly deserved the coveted prize.