What made Graham famous was his proposal to reduce the salaries of public officials in the Lower House, as well as his criticism of the high salaries of Privy Council ministers.
After Count Grey took office, Graham not only participated in drafting the Parliantary Reform Act but also, as the Naval Minister, initiated several arduous reforms within the Royal Navy. These included appointnts based on rit (not selecting Navy Departnt officials based on party affiliations), improving sailors’ treatnt and pension benefits, and ordering the abolition of various corporal punishnts in the military.
The only regret was that he hit a snag with the Royal Navy’s customary practice of conscription (forced enlistnt).
Despite Graham’s persistent efforts to abolish this ancient tradition, he ultimately failed.
However, it is regrettable that such a successful minister had to leave office due to differing opinions with the Whig Party on the Ireland issue.
Moreover, in Arthur’s view, Graham’s argunts against the Ireland Church Secular Affairs Bill indeed had so rit,
Graham believed that the foundation of the political union between Britain and Ireland lies in the Church as a link. Any interference in the Church system could destabilize this foundation, ultimately leading to the union’s dissolution.
From a liberal standpoint, Graham’s viewpoint is undoubtedly difficult to accept.
But from a realist standpoint, to promote the union between Britain and Ireland, it is absolutely necessary to gradually assimilate Ireland through the National Church of England. Even though this assimilation process is very slow and might infringe upon such basic human rights as religious freedom, even if it takes a hundred or two hundred years, this work must continue.
The departure of Graham and others not only cost the Whig Party several capable mbers but also affected the party as they often served as an adhesive within it.
Graham, a relatively pragmatic idealist in the Whig Party, could both converse with "overly opinionated" Lord Brougham and Earl of Dalmo, and connect with the cunning Viscount Palston, who skillfully maneuvered between the Tory and Whig Party.
As for why Lord Brougham and Viscount Palston are specifically brought up,
That is naturally because these two were very incompatible.
The grudge between Viscount Palston and Lord Brougham began even before Arthur was born.
In 1806, when Palston had just obtained a master’s degree in literature from St. John’s College, Cambridge, coincidentally, Pri Minister Pitt Jr. unfortunately passed away due to illness. Cambridge University had to painfully say goodbye to this outstanding alumnus, who had served twice as Pri Minister and governed for 20 years, and elect a new representative for Cambridge University’s MP.
In Britain, MP seats at Cambridge and Oxford have always been viewed as the highest honor, making it difficult for young Palston to resist.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only one interested in this position. Compared to the then little-known Palston, Lords Spencer, Alsop, and Petty, also young but seemingly more promising, undoubtedly attracted more attention.
Lord Brougham, then serving as Princess Caroline’s private legal advisor and already quite prestigious in British politics, once wrote to Lord Macaulay of Cambridge University, clearly expressing his support for Palston’s rival, Lord Petty.
In that letter, Lord Brougham couldn’t hide his disdain towards Palston: Palston, one of the candidates, a young man who graduated from university just a month ago, lacks all the qualities required for this position. I distinctly rember seeing him in Edinburgh, where he studied at Edinburgh University for a few years, later transferring to Cambridge. It is precisely due to my understanding of his family and himself that I earnestly wish for Petty’s success in the Cambridge constituency. Palston’s family is staunchly opposed to abolitionism, unrivaled in this respect. Moreover, I think this young man is astoundingly self-centered. For him, the most significant aspect of contesting the election is the belief that among all ambitious pursuits, the life of a courtier is the most glorious. Don’t you think, based on the above, that our friends have far more reasons to support Petty to defeat Palston?
Therefore, tracing the origins of their conflict, it actually dates back nearly thirty years.
And in 1809, the then 25-year-old Palston was entrusted by Pri Minister Percival with the role of Minister of War, responsible for overseeing and guiding all accounts of the army, militia, and volunteer forces, a position he held for 19 years.
Putting aside Arthur’s personal grievances with Palston, Arthur must fairly say that Palston did a comndable job in this role.
During Palston’s tenure, he was always committed to improving military efficiency, and judging by Britain’s performance in the Napoleonic Wars, the British Army indeed rarely encountered logistical issues. However, due to his prolonged service in the War Departnt, Palston naturally developed a political style fervent in advocating for national power and military strength.
Furthermore, even at that ti, his autocratic personality was beginning to appear. Despite being just in his twenties, he refused to yield in the struggles with the two consecutive British Army Commanders, Sir David Dundas and Duke of York.
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