 Macdonald began to drink heavily around this time, both in public and in private, which Patricia Phenix, who studied Macdonald's private life, attributes to his family troubles.The Liberals, or Grits, maintained power in the 1851 election, but soon, they were divided by a parliamentary scandal.In September, the government resigned, and a coalition government uniting parties from both parts of the province under Sir Allan MacNab took power.