E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Coalition Government.
A Government formed by various parties by a mutual surrender of principles. The administration of Lord North and Charles Fox, 1783, was a coalition, but it fell to pieces in a few months. That of Lord Salisbury with the old Whig party headed by Lord Hartington was a coalition (1886–1892).
