... a series of political and personal crises during the 1840s and 1850s and he was distraught that he was unable, for whatever reasons, to merge with either party. In 1857 Gladstone wrote to Samuel Wilberforce "I greatly felt being turned out of office, I saw great things to do and I longed to do them. I am losing the best years of my life out of natural service". It is clear that Gladstone is going through a lot of mental torment knowing that he is a more than able politician and yet he is unable to hold power, he seemed desperate to join with any party that would take him. Up to his death in 1850, Peel refused to organise his followers into a party and this kept Gladstone out of office. With Peel gone it was a question of deciding which side to support, a question resolved with the formation ...

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