During the first six years of federation there were five ministries; the tenure of office under the threeyearly system was naturally uncertain, and this uncertainty was reflected in the proposals of whatever ministry was in office.
Died in office on the 7th of February 1870; succeeded by the lieutenant-governor.
In their anxiety to remain in office Depretis and the finance minister, Magliani, never hesitated to mortgage the financial future of their country.
They often used to visit him at Avila, where in 1498, still in office as inquisitor-general, he held his last general assembly to complete his life's work.
In the autumn of 1841 he was succeeded in office by Lord Ellenborough, and returned to England in the following year.