He was forced to resign from his office as prime minister by his unpopular conservatism, a distinct departure from his earlier politics.

As a royal councillor of the absolute monarchy, he was rather liberal and tolerant and therefore often unpopular with the more conservative elements.

As the opposition grew stronger however, he became more conservative and as prime minister, he was considered a full-blood reactionary.

His attempt to charter a very conservative constitution led to cooperation between the king and the liberals that forced him to resign.

Among other things he wrote on Kantian and Hegelian philosophy, on Danish and Norwegian law, on Scandinavian politics (1857) and left an autobiography (1856).