Of all the liberal reforms this was the one which aroused the bitterest resentment in Victoria.

She considered that the change was an attack upon her personal position--almost an attack upon the personal position of Albert.

But she was helpless, and the Prime Minister had his way.
When she heard that the dreadful man had yet another reform in contemplation--that he was about to abolish the purchase of military commissions--she could only feel that it was just what might have been expected.

For a moment she hoped that the House of Lords would come to the rescue; the Peers opposed the change with unexpected vigour; but Mr.
Gladstone, more conscious than ever of the support of the Almighty, was ready with an ingenious device.

The purchase of commissions had been originally allowed by Royal Warrant; it should now be disallowed by the same agency.