The death of Lord Palmerston at the age of eighty, October 17, 1865, made Earl Russell prime minister, while Gladstone resumed under the new government his post as chancellor of the exchequer, and now became formally the leader of the Liberals in the House of Commons.

Irish questions in 1866 came prominently to the front, for the condition of Ireland at that time was as alarming as it was deplorable, with combined Fenianism and poverty and disaffection in every quarter.  So grave was the state of this unhappy country that the government felt obliged to bring in a bill suspending the habeas corpus act, which the chancellor of the exchequer eloquently supported.  His conversion to Liberal views was during this session seen in bringing in a measure for the abolition of compulsory church-rates, in aid of Dissenters; but before it could be carried through its various stages a change of ministry had taken place on another issue, and the Conservatives again came into power, with Lord Derby for prime minister and Disraeli for chancellor of the exchequer and leader of his party in the House of Commons.

This fall of the Liberal ministry was brought about by the Reform Bill, which Lord Russell had prepared, and which was introduced by the chancellor of the exchequer amid unparalleled excitement.  Finance measures lost their interest in the fierceness of the political combat.  It was not so important a measure as that of the reform of 1832 in its political consequences, but it was of importance enough to enlist absorbing interest throughout the kingdom; it would have added four hundred thousand new voters.  While it satisfied the Liberals, it was regarded by the Conservatives as a dangerous concession, opening the doors too widely to the people.  Its most brilliant and effective opponent was Mr. Lowe, whose oratory raised him at once to fame and influence.  Seldom has such eloquence been heard in the House of Commons, and from all the leading debaters on both sides.  Mr. Gladstone outdid himself, but perhaps was a little too profuse with his Latin quotations.  The debate was continued for eight successive nights.  The final division was the largest ever known:  the government found itself in a minority of eleven, and consequently resigned.  Lord Derby, as has been said, was again prime minister.

The memorable rivalry between Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli was now continued in deeper earnest, and never ceased so long as the latter statesman was a member of the House of Commons, They were recognized to be the heads of their respective parties,—­two giants in debate; two great parliamentary gladiators, on whom the eyes of the nation rested.  Mr. Gladstone was the more earnest, the more learned, and the more solid in his blows.  Mr. Disraeli was the more adroit, the more witty, and the more brilliant in his thrusts.  Both were equally experienced.  The one appealed to justice and truth; the other to the prejudices of the House and the pride of a nation of classes.  One was armed with a heavy dragoon sword; the other with a light rapier, which he used with extraordinary skill.  Mr. G.W.E.  Russell, in his recent “Life of Gladstone,” quotes the following passage from a letter of Lord Houghton, May, 1867:—­