s at last to be put in hand； when there was a change of Government and Lord Palmerston became Prime Minister。 Lord Palmerston at once sent for Mr。 Scott。 〃Well； Mr。 Scott；〃 he said； in his jaunty way； 〃I can't have anything to do with this Gothic style。 I must insist on your making a design in the Italian manner； which I am sure you can do very cleverly。〃 Mr。 Scott was appalled； the style of the Italian renaissance was not only unsightly； it was positively immoral； and he sternly refused to have anything to do with it。 Thereupon Lord Palmerston assumed a fatherly tone。 〃Quite true； a Gothic architect can't be expected to put up a Classical building； I must find someone else。〃 This was intolerable； and Mr。 Scott； on his return home； addressed to the Prime Minister a strongly…worded letter； in which he dwelt upon his position as an architect； upon his having won two European competitions； his being an A。R。A。； a gold medallist of the Institute； and a lecturer on architecture at the Royal Academy； but it was uselessLord Palmerston did not even reply。 It then occurred to Mr。 Scott that； by a judicious mixture； he might； while preserving the essential character of the Gothic； produce a design which would give a superficial impression of the Classical style。 He did so； but no effect was produced upon Lord Palmerston。 The new design； he said； was 〃neither one thing nor 'tothera regular mongrel affairand he would have nothing to do with it either。〃 After that Mr。 Scott found it necessary to recruit for two months at Scarborough； 〃with a course of quinine。〃 He recovered his tone at last； but only at the cost of his convictions。 For the sake of his family he felt that it was his unfortunate duty to obey the Prime Minister； and； shuddering with horror； he constructed the Government offices in a strictly Renaissance style。
Shortly afterwards Mr。 Scott found some consolation in building the St。 Pancras Hotel in a style of his own。
And now another and yet more satisfactory task was his。 〃My idea in designing the Memorial；〃 he wrote； 〃was to erect a kind of ciborium to protect a statue of the Prince； and its special characteristic was that the ciborium was designed in some degree on the principles of the ancient shrines。 These shrines were models of imaginary buildings； such as had never in reality been erected； and my idea was to realise one of these imaginary structures with its precious materials； its inlaying； its enamels； etc。 etc。〃 His idea was particularly appropriate since it chanced that a similar conception； though in the reverse order of magnitude； had occurred to the Prince himself； who had designed and executed several silver cruet…stands upon the same model。 At the Queen's request a site was chosen in Kensington Gardens as near as possible to that of the Great Exhibition； and in May； 1864； the first sod was turned。 The work was long； complicated； and difficult； a great number of workmen were employed； besides several subsidiary sculptors and metalworkers under Mr。 Scott's direction； while at every stage sketches and models were submitted to Her Majesty； who criticised all the details with minute care； and constantly suggested improvements。 The frieze； which encircled the base of the monument； was in itself a very serious piece of work。 〃This；〃 said Mr。 Scott； 〃taken as a whole； is perhaps one of the most laborious works of sculpture ever undertaken； consisting； as it does； of a continuous range of figure…sculpture of the most elaborate description； in the highest alto…relievo of life…size； of more than 200 feet in length； containing about 170 figures； and executed in the hardest marble which could be procured。〃 After three years of toil the memorial was still far from completion； and Mr。 Scott thought it advisable to give a dinner to the workmen； 〃as a substantial recognition of his appreciation of their skill and energy。〃 〃Two long tables；〃 we are told； 〃constructed of scaffold planks； were arranged in the workshops； and covered with newspapers； for want of table…cloths。 Upwards of eighty men sat down。 Beef and mutton； plum pudding and cheese were supplied in abundance； and each man who desired it had three pints of beer； gingerbeer and lemonade being provided for the teetotalers； who formed a very considerable proportion。。。 Several toasts were given and many of the workmen spoke； almost all of them commencing by 〃Thanking God that they enjoyed good health；〃 some alluded to the temperance that prevailed amongst them； others observed how little swearing was ever heard； whilst all said how pleased and proud they were to be engaged on so great a work。〃
Gradually the edifice approached completion。 The one hundred and seventieth life…size figure in the frieze was chiselled； the granite pillars arose； the mosaics were inserted in the allegorical pediments； the four colossal statues representing the greater Christian virtues； the four other colossal statues representing the greater moral virtues； were hoisted into their positions； the eight bronzes representing the greater sciencesAstronomy； Chemistry； Geology； Geometry； Rhetoric； Medicine； Philosophy； and Physiologywere fixed on their glittering pinnacles； high in air。 The statue of Physiology was particularly admired。 〃On her left arm；〃 the official description informs us； 〃she bears a new…born infant； as a representation of the development of the highest and most perfect of physiological forms； her hand points towards a microscope； the instrument which lends its assistance for the investigation of the minuter forms of animal and vegetable organisms。〃 At last the gilded cross crowned the dwindling galaxies of superimposed angels； the four continents in white marble stood at the four corners of the base； and； seven years after its inception； in July； 1872； the monument was thrown open to the public。
But four more years were to elapse before the central figure was ready to be placed under its starry canopy。 It was designed by Mr。 Foley； though in one particular the sculptor's freedom was restricted by Mr。 Scott。 〃I have chosen the sitting posture；〃 Mr。 Scott said； 〃as best conveying the idea of dignity befitting a royal personage。〃 Mr。 Foley ably carried out the conception of his principal。 〃In the attitude and expression；〃 he said； 〃the aim has been； with the individuality of portraiture； to embody rank； character； and enlightenment； and to convey a sense of that responsive intelligence indicating an active； rather than a passive； interest in those pursuits of civilisation illustrated in the surrounding figures； groups； and relievos。。。 To identify the figure with one of the most memorable undertakings of the public life of the Princethe International Exhibition of 1851a catalogue of the works collected in that first gathering of the industry of all nations； is placed in the right hand。〃 The statue was of bronze gilt and weighed nearly ten tons。 It was rightly supposed that the simple word 〃Albert；〃 cast on the base； would be a sufficient means of identification。
CHAPTER VIII。 GLADSTONE AND LORD BEACONSFIELD
I
Lord Palmerston's laugha queer metallic 〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 with reverberations in it from the days of Pitt and the Congress of Viennawas heard no more in Piccadilly； Lord John Russell dwindled into senility； Lord Derby tottered from the stage。 A new scene opened； and new protagonistsMr。 Gladstone and Mr。 Disraelistruggled together in the limelight。 Victoria； from her post of vantage； watched these developments with that passionate and personal interest which she invariably imported into politics。 Her prepossessions were of an unexpected kind。 Mr。 Gladstone had been the disciple of her revered Peel； and had won the approval of Albert； Mr。 Disraeli had hounded Sir Robert to his fall with hideous virulence； and the Prince had pronounced that he 〃had not one single element of a gentleman in his composition。〃 Yet she regarded Mr。 Gladstone with a distrust and dislike which steadily deepened； while upon his rival she lavished an abundance of confidence； esteem； and affection such as Lord Melbourne himself had hardly known。
Her attitude towards the Tory Minister had suddenly changed when she found that he alone among public men had divined her feelings at Albert's death。 Of the others she might have said 〃they pity me and not my grief；〃 but Mr。 Disraeli had understood； and all his condolences had taken the form of reverential eulogies of the departed。 The Queen declared that he was 〃the only person who appreciated the Prince。〃 She began to show him special favour； gave him and his wife two of the coveted seats in St。 George's Chapel at the Prince of Wales's wedding； and invited him to stay a night at Windsor。 When the grant for the Albert Memorial came before the House of Commons； Disraeli； as leader of the Opposition； eloquently supported the project。 He was rewarded by a copy of the Prince's speeches； bound in white morocco； with an inscription in the royal hand。 In his letter of thanks he 〃ventured to touch upon a sacred theme；〃 and； in a strain which re…echoed with masterly fidelity the sentiments of his correspondent； dwelt at length upon the absolute perfection of Albert。 〃The Prince；〃 he said； 〃is the only person whom Mr。 Disraeli has ever known who realised the Ideal。 None with whom he is acquainted have ever approached it。 There was in him a union of the manly grace and sublime simplicity； of chivalry with the intellectual splendour of the Attic Academe。 The only character in English history that would； in some respects； draw near to him is Sir Philip Sidney： the same high tone； the same universal accomplishments； the same blended tenderness and vigour； the same rare combination of romantic energy and classic repose。〃 As for his own acquaintance with the Prince； it had been； he said； 〃one of the most satisfactory incidents of his life： full of refined and beautiful memories； and exercising； as he hopes； over his remaining existence； a soothing and exalting influence。〃 Victoria was much affected by 〃the depth and delicacy of these touches；〃 and henceforward Disraeli's place in her affections was assured。 When； in 1866； the Conservatives came into office； Disraeli's position as Chancellor of the Exchequer and leader of the House necessarily brought him into a closer relat