Lord John Russell's Government resigned in February [1852] and the Earl of Derby formed a Conservative administration with Disraeli as Chancellor. There was a general election in July and, although the Conservatives gained over 100 seats, they remained a minority government. Joseph Irving notes in his Annals of Our Time [1869], 'A diversity giving rise to much comment was noticed in the speeches delivered during the present election by Ministerial supporters, regarding the views of the Cabinet on the subject of Free-trade', and records also 'a curious case of bribery' at Derby, where a man was found in the County Tavern with '265l. in gold and 40l. in notes' and a book containing 'the names of electors who had received money for their vote'.
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