Victoria was faced by a curious dilemma: she abominated the abolition of purchase; but she was asked to abolish it by an exercise of sovereign power which was very much to her taste.

She did not hesitate for long; and when the Cabinet, in a formal minute, advised her to sign the Warrant, she did so with a good grace.
Unacceptable as Mr.Gladstone's policy was, there was something else about him which was even more displeasing to Victoria.

She disliked his personal demeanour towards herself.

It was not that Mr.Gladstone, in his intercourse with her, was in any degree lacking in courtesy or respect.

On the contrary, an extraordinary reverence impregnated his manner, both in his conversation and his correspondence with the Sovereign.