Chapter 8

"Who would not weep if such a man there be—Who would not weep if Atticus were he?"

I said just now, that Sir Robert Peel's signal characteristic was the doing things, the impropriety and danger of doing which he had himself beforehand demonstrated; and that was the reflection with which I yesterday concluded the perusal of a memorable little document which I took care to preserve at the time—I mean his national manifesto at the general election of 1841, in the shape of his address to the electors of Tamworth. Apply it now like a plummet to the edifice of Sir Robert Peel's political character; how conclusively it shows the extent to which it has diverged or swelled from the perpendicular line of right—how much he has departed from the standard which he had himself set up! What must be his feelings on recurring to such a declaration as this?

"That party," [the Conservative,] "gentlemen, has been pleased to intrust your representative with its confidence—(cheers;) and, notwithstanding all the remarks that have been made at various times, respecting differences of opinion and jealousy among them, you may depend upon it that they are altogether without foundation; and that that party which has paid me the compliment of taking my advice, and following my counsel,are a united and compact party, among which there does not exist the slightest difference of opinion in respect to the principles they support, and the course they may desire to pursue. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I hope I have not abused the confidence of that great party."[66](Loud cheers.)!!!I give the eloquent and eminent speaker credit for feeling a sort of twinge, a pang, a spasm, on reading the above. One more extract I will give relative to the recent conduct of Sir R. Peel on the sugar-duties:—"The question now is, gentlemen, whether, after the sacrifices which this country has made for the suppression of the slave-trade, and the abolition of slavery, and the glorious results that have ensued, and are likely to ensue from these sacrifices, we shall run the risk of losing the benefit of these sacrifices, andtarnishing for ever that glory, by admitting to the British markets sugar, the produce of foreign slavery? Gentlemen, the character of this country, in respect to slavery, is thus spoken of by one of the most eloquent writers and statesmen of another country, Dr Channing, of the United States:—'Great Britain, loaded with an unprecedented debt, and with a grinding taxation, contracted a new debt of a hundred millions of dollars, to give freedom, not to Englishmen, but to the degraded African. I know not that history records an act so disinterested, so sublime. In the progress of ages, England's naval triumphs will sink into a more and more narrow space on the records of our race. This moral triumph will fill a broader, brighter page.'Gentlemen," proceeded Sir Robert Peel, "let us take care that this 'brighter page' be not sullied by the admission of slave sugar into the consumption of this country, by our unnecessary encouragement of slavery and the slave-trade."[67]

Is it not humiliating and distressing to compare these sentences, and the lofty spirit which pervades them, with the speech, and theanimuspervading it, delivered by Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons, on Lord John Russell's bringing in his bill for "sullying this bright page" of English glory? Did Sir Robert Peel, true to principle, solemnly and peremptorily announce the refusal of his assent to that cruel, and foolish, and wicked measure? I forbear to press this topic, also quitting it, with the expression of my opinion, that that speech alone was calculated to do him fearful and irreparable injury in public estimation. It is impossible for the most zealous and skilful advocacy to frame a plausible vindication of this part of Sir Robert Peel's conduct. I sincerely acquit him of having any sinister or impure motive; the fact was, simply, that he found that he had placed himself in a dire perplexity and dilemma.

I think it next to impossible that Sir Robert Peel can ever again be in a position, even if he desired it, to sway the destinies of this country, either as a prime minister, or by the force of his personal influence and opinion. Has he or has he not done rightly by thegreatest party that ever gave its noble and ennobling support to a minister? Can he himself, in 1846, express the "hope" of 1841, that "he has not abused the confidence of that great party?" If he again take part in the debates of Parliament, he will always be listened to, whoever may be in power, with the interest and attention justly due to his masterly acquaintance with the conduct of the public business, most especially on matters of finance. But with what involuntary shrinking and distrust is his advocacy or defence of any of our great institutions likely to be received hereafter by their consistent and devoted friends? Will they not be prepared to find the splendid vindication of the preceding evening, but the prelude to the next evening's abandonment and denunciation? Is not, in short, the national confidence thoroughly shaken? His support and advocacy of any great interest are too likely to be received with guarded satisfaction—as far as they go,as long as they continue—not with the enthusiastic confidence due to surpassing and consistent statesmanship.

It has sometimes occurred to me, in scrutinising his later movements, that one of his set purposes was finally to break up the Conservative party, and scatter among it the seeds of future dissension and difficulty; possibly thinking, conscientiously, that in the state of things which he had brought about, the continued existence of a Conservative party with definite points of cohesion, with visible acknowledged rallying-points, could no longer be beneficial to the country. He may have in his eye the formation of another party, willing to accept of his leadership, after another general election; of which said new party his present few adherents are to form the nucleus. But I do not see how this is to be done. Confounding, for a time, to all party connexions and combinations as have been the occurrences of the last session, of perhaps the last two sessions, of Parliament, a steady watchful eye may already see the two great parties of the state—Liberal and Conservatives—readjusting themselves in conformity with their respectivegeneralviews and principles. The Conservative party has at the moment a prodigious strength of hold upon the country—not noisy or ostentatious, but real, and calculated to have its strength rapidly, though secretly, increased by alarmed seceders from the Liberal ranks, on seeing the spirit of change become more bold and active, and directing its steps towards the regions of revolution and democracy. Sir Robert Peel's speech, on resigning office, presented several features of an alarming character. Several of his sentences, especially with reference to Ireland,

—"made the boldest hold their breathFor a time."

Candid persons did not see in what he was doing, the paltry desire to outbid his perplexed successors, but suspected that he was designedly—advisedly—laying down visible lines of eternal separation between him and his former supporters, rendering it impossible for him to return to them, or for them to go over to him; and so at once putting an extinguisher upon all future doubts and speculation. To me it appeared that the speech in question evidenced an astounding revolution—astounding in its suddenness and violence—of the speaker's political system; announcingresults, while other men were only just beginning to see the process. Will Sir Robert Peel join Lord John Russell? What, serve under him, and become a fellow-subordinate of Lord Palmerston's? I think not. What post would be offered to him? What post wouldhe, the late prime minister, consent to fill under his victorious rival? Will, then, Lord John Russell act under Sir Robert Peel? Most certainly—at least in my opinion—not. What then is to be done, in the event of Sir Robert Peel's being willing to resume official life?Overwhom,underwhom,withwhom, is he to act? The Conservative party have already elected his successor, Lord Stanley, who cannot, who will not be deposed in favour ofanyone; a man of very splendid talents, of long official experience, of lofty personal character, of paramount hereditary claims to the support of the aristocracy, who has never sacrificed consistency, but rather sacrificed every thing for consistency.Ever since he accepted the leadership of the great Conservative party, he has evinced a profound sense of its responsibilities and requirements, and the possession of these qualifications in respect of prudence and moderation, which some had formerly doubted. Lord Stanley, then, will continue the Conservative leader, and Lord John Russell the Liberal leader; and I doubt whether any decisive move will be made till after the ensuing general election. What will be the result of it? What will be the rallying-cries of party? What will Sir Robert Peel say to the Tamworth electors?

However these questions may be answered, I would, had I the power, speak trumpet-tongued to our Conservative friends in every county and borough in the kingdom, and say, "up, and be doing." Spare no expense or exertion, but do it prudently. Use every instrument of legitimate influence—for the stake played for is tremendous; the national interests evidently marked out for assault, are vital; and they will stand or fall, and we enjoy peace, or be condemned to agitation and alarm, according to the result of the next General Election, which will assuredly palsy the hands of either the friends or enemies of the best interests of the country.

And now, dear Christopher, I draw towards the close of this long letter, without having been able even to touch upon several other "Things" which I had noted down for observation and comment. As my letter draws to a close, so also draws rapidly to a close my seaside sojourn. My hours of relaxation are numbered. I must return to the busy scenes of the metropolis, and resume my interrupted duties. And you, too, have returned to the scene of your renown, the sphere of your honourable and responsible duties. May your shadow never grow less!Floreat Maga!I have done. The old postman, wet through in coming over the hills, is waiting for my letter, and, having finished his beer, is fidgeting to be off. "What! can't you spare me one five minutes more?" "No, sir—impossible—I ought to have been at——an hour ago"

Farewell then, dear Christopher,Your faithful friend,An Old Contributor.

FOOTNOTES:

[1]"La Madeleine comme le Pantheon avait été commencée la même année en 1764, par les ordres de Louis XV., le roi des grand monumens, et dont le regne a été travesti par la petite histoire."—Capefigue,Histoire de Louis Philippe, viii. 281.

[2]Marlborough to the Earl of Sunderland, 8th Nov. 1709.Disp.iv. 647. Coxe, iv. 167.

[3]Coxe, iv. 169. Lamberti, vi. 37, 49.

[4]Note to Petcum, August 10, 1710.Marlborough Papers; and Coxe, iv. 173.

[5]"I am very sorry to tell you that the behaviour of the French looks as if they had no other desire than that of carrying on the war. I hope God will bless this campaign, for I see nothing else that cangive us peace either at home or abroad. I am so discouraged by every thing I see, that I have never, during this war, gone into the field with so heavy a heart as at this time. I own to you, that the present humour in England gives me a good deal of trouble; for I cannot see how it is possible they should mend till every thing is yet worse."Marlborough to Duchess Marlborough, Hague, 14th April 1710. Coxe, iv. 179.

[6]Marlborough to Godolphin, 20th April, iv. 182.

[7]"In my last, I had but just time to tell you we had passed the lines. I hope this happy beginning will produce such success this campaign as must put an end to the war. I bless God for putting it into their heads not to defend their lines; for at Pont-a-Vendin, when I passed, the Marshal D'Artagnan was with twenty thousand men, which, if he had staid, must have rendered the event very doubtful. But, God be praised, we are come without the loss of any men. The excuse the French make is, that we came four days before they expected us."—Marlborough to the Duchess, 21st April 1710. Coxe, ix. 184.

[8]"I hope God will so bless our efforts, that if the Queen should not be so happy as to have a prospect of peace before the opening of the next session of parliament, she and all her subjects may be convinced we do our best here in the army to put a speedy and good period to this bloody war."Marlborough to the Duchess, May 12, 1710."I hear of so many disagreeable things, that make it very reasonable, both for myself and you, to take no steps but what may lead to a quiet life. This being the case, am I not to be pitied that am every day in danger of exposing my life for the good of those who are seeking my ruin? God's will be done. If I can be so blessed as to end this campaign with success, things must very much alter to persuade me to come again at the head of the army."Marlborough to the Duchess, 19th May 1710. Coxe, iv. 191, 192.

"I hear of so many disagreeable things, that make it very reasonable, both for myself and you, to take no steps but what may lead to a quiet life. This being the case, am I not to be pitied that am every day in danger of exposing my life for the good of those who are seeking my ruin? God's will be done. If I can be so blessed as to end this campaign with success, things must very much alter to persuade me to come again at the head of the army."Marlborough to the Duchess, 19th May 1710. Coxe, iv. 191, 192.

[9]Marlborough to Godolphin, 26th May and 2d June 1710.

[10]Marlborough to the Duchess, 12th June 1710. Coxe, iv. 197.

[11]Marlborough to Godolphin, 26th June 1710.Disp.iv. 696.

[12]Considerat. sur la Camp. de 1710, par M. le Marshal Villars; and Coxe, iv. 192.

[13]Marlborough to Godolphin, 29th August 1710.Disp.iv. 581. Coxe, iv. 294.

[14]Coxe, iv. 343, 344.

[15]"I am of opinion that, after the siege of Aire, I shall have it in my power to attack Calais. This is a conquest which would very much prejudice France, and ought to have a good effect for the Queen's service in England; but I see so much malice levelled at me, that I am afraid it is not safe for me to make any proposition, lest, if it should not succeed, my enemies should turn it to my disadvantage."Marlborough to Godolphin, 11th August 1710. Coxe, iv. 343.

[16]"Till within these few days, during thesenine yearsI have never had occasion to send ill news. Our powder and other stores, for the carrying on these two sieges, left Ghent last Thursday, under the convoy of twelve hundred foot and four hundred and fifty horse. They were attacked by the enemy and beaten, so that they blew up the powder, and sunk the store-boats."Marlborough to the Duchess, 22d September 1710. Coxe, iv. 365.

[17]"Take it we must, for we cannot draw the guns from the batteries. But God knows when we shall have it: night and day our poor men are up to the knees in mud and water."Marlborough to Godolphin, 27th October 1710.

[18]Marlborough to Godolphin, 13th November 1710.Disp.iv. 685, 689. Coxe, iv. 366, 367.

[19]Cunningham, ii. 305.

[20]Marlborough to the Duchess, 26th July 1710. Coxe, iv. 299.

[21]Marlborough to the Duchess, 25th October and 24th November 1710. Coxe, iv. 351, 352.

[22]Bolingbroke'sCorresp., i. 41; Mr Secretary St John to Mr Drummond, 20th Dec. 1710.

[23]"I beg you to lose no time in sending me, to the Hague, the opinion of our friend mentioned in my letter; for I would be governed by the Whigs, from whose principle and interest I will never depart. Whilst they had a majority in the House of Commons, they might suspect it might be my interest; but now they must do me the justice to see that it is my inclination and principle which makes me act."Marlborough to the Duchess, Nov. 9, 1710. Coxe, iv. 360.

[24]Coxe, iv. 405.

[25]"Though I never thought of troubling your Majesty again in this manner, yet the circumstances I see my Lord Marlborough in, and the apprehension I have that he cannot live six months, if there is not some end put to his sufferings on my account, make it impossible for me to resist doing every thing in my power to ease him."Duchess of Marlborough to Queen Anne, 17th Jan. 1711. Coxe, iv. 410.

[26]Smollett, c. x. § 20.

[27]Marlborough to the Duchess, 24th May 1711. Coxe, v. 417-431.

[28]Eugene to Marlborough, 23d April 1710; Marlborough to St John, 29th April 1710. Coxe, vi. 16.Disp.v. 319.

[29]Lidiard, ii. 426. Coxe, vi. 21. 22.

[30]"I see my Lord Rochester has gone where we all must follow. I believe my journey will be hastened by the many vexations I meet with. I am sure I wish well to my country, and if I could do good, I should think no pains too great; but I find myself decay so very fast, that from my heart and soul I wish the Queen and my country a peace by which I might have the advantage of enjoying a little quiet, which is my greatest ambition."Marlborough to the Duchess, 25th May, 1711. Coxe, vi. 28.

[31]Marlborough to St John, 14th June 1711.Disp. v. 428. Coxe, vi. 29, 30.

[32]Villars' Mem.tom. ii. ann. 1711.

[33]Bolingbroke's Corresp.i. 172.

[34]"The Duke of Marlborough has no communication from home on this affair; I suppose he will have none from the Hague."Mr Secretary St John to Lord Raby, 27th April 1711.Bolingbroke's Corresp.i. 175.

[35]Coxe, vi. 52-54.

[36]Kane'sMemoirs, p. 89. Coxe, vi. 53, 55;Disp.v. 421, 428.

[37]Kane'sMemoirs, p. 92. Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 6th August, 1711.Disp.v. 428.

[38]Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 6th August 1711.Disp.v. 428. Coxe, vi. 60-65.Kane's Mil. Mem.96-99.

[39]"No person takes a greater interest in your concerns than myself; your highness has penetrated into thene plus ultra. I hope the siege of Bouchain will not last long."Eugene to Marlborough, 17th August 1711. Coxe, vi. 66.

[40]"My Lord Stair opened to us the general steps which your grace intended to take, in order to pass the lines in one part or another. It was, however, hard to imagine, and too much to hope, that a plan, which consisted of so many parts, wherein so many different corps were to co-operate personally together, should entirely succeed, and no one article fail of what your grace had projected. I most heartily congratulate your grace on this great event, of which I think no more needs be said, than that you have obtained, without losing a man, such an advantage, as we should have been glad to have purchased with the loss of several thousand lives."Mr Secretary St John to Marlborough, 31st July 1711.Disp.v. 429.

[41]Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 10th August 1711.Disp.v. 437.

[42]Coxe, vi. 71-80; Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 14th, 17th, and 20th August 1711;Disp.v. 445, 450, 453.

[43]Marlborough to Mr Secretary St John, 14th Sept. 1711.Disp.v. 490.Coxe, vi. 78-88.

[44]Victoires de Marlborough, iii. 22. Coxe, vi. 87.

[45]There were special reasons for the mutual hatred of these two brothers. One of the Amir's wives was a lady of the royal family of Sadozai, who, when the decline of that dynasty commenced, had attracted the attention of Sultan Mohammed Khan, and a correspondence took place between them. She prepared to leave Kabul to be married to him, when the Amir, who was also smitten with her charms, forcibly seized her and compelled her to become his wife. This at once created, and has ever since maintained, a fatal animosity between the brothers; and Sultan Mohammed Khan has often been heard to say, that nothing would afford him greater pleasure, even at breathing his last, than to drink the blood of the Amir. Such is the nature of the brotherly feeling now existing between them.—SeeLife of Dost Mohammed Khan, vol. i. p. 222, 223.

[46]Sale's Brigade in Afghanistan.By the Rev.G.R. Gleig.

[47]"By sudden and urgent necessity, the Commissioners understand any case of destitution requiring instant relief, before the person can be received into the workhouse; as, for example, when a person is deprived of the usual means of support, by means of fire, or storm, or inundation, or robbery, or riot, or any other similar cause, which he could not control, where it had occurred, and which it would have been impossible or very difficult for him to foresee and prevent."—Eighth Report of the Poor-Law Commissioners.App. A.; No. 2.

[48]In the third volume of Von Schöning'sHistory of the Artillery, we find the following extract from an official report of Captain Spreuth, an artillery officer, dated Königsberg, 18th December 1812. "The 'Grand Army' is retreating across the Weichsel, if indeed it may be called a retreat; it is more like a total rout or disbandment, for the fugitives came without order or baggage. The post-horses are at work day and night. From the 16th to the 17th, 71 generals 60 colonels, 1243 staff and other officers, passed through this place; the majority continued their route on foot, being unable to procure horses; the officers' baggage is all lost, some of it has been plundered by their own men, and we have even seen officers fighting in the streets with the common soldiers."

[49]The noted military writer, Carl Von Decker, since General.

[50]"Dietro al mio legno, che cantando varca."—Dante.

[51]Michel Angelo lived until the beginning of the year 1564, the seventieth after the death of Luigia de' Medici.

[52]In the Florentine style, 1474. The Florentine year began at Easter.

[53]Michel Angelo was the fourth and last of the sons of Ludovico.

[54]The Platonic Academy was established at Florence in 1474. Politiano's death, twenty years later, was the cause of its entire dispersion.

[55]"But, perhaps, thy compassion regards with more justice than I thought in the beginning, my pure and loyal ardour, and the passion which thy looks have kindled in me for noble actions."Oh, most happy day! if it ever arrive for me, let my days and hours concentrate themselves in that moment! and, to prolong it, let the sun forget his accustomed course!"

[55]"But, perhaps, thy compassion regards with more justice than I thought in the beginning, my pure and loyal ardour, and the passion which thy looks have kindled in me for noble actions.

"Oh, most happy day! if it ever arrive for me, let my days and hours concentrate themselves in that moment! and, to prolong it, let the sun forget his accustomed course!"

[56]He was born in 1475.

[57]The first sonnet of the collection; that commencing with the celebrated proposition—"Non ha l'ottimo artista alcun concetto."

[57]The first sonnet of the collection; that commencing with the celebrated proposition—

"Non ha l'ottimo artista alcun concetto."

[58]"Dal mortale al divin non vanno gli occhiChe sono infermi." * * * *

[58]

"Dal mortale al divin non vanno gli occhiChe sono infermi." * * * *

[59]"Veggendo ne tuo' occhi il Paradiso,Per ritornar là dove io t'amai pria,Ricorro ardendo sotto le tue ciglia."

[59]

"Veggendo ne tuo' occhi il Paradiso,Per ritornar là dove io t'amai pria,Ricorro ardendo sotto le tue ciglia."

[60]"Non so se e'l'immaginata luceDel suo primo Fattor che l'alma sente,O se dalla memoria. * * *Alcuna altra bella nel cor traluce,* * * * * * *Del tuo primiero stato il raggio ardenteDi sè lasciando un non so che cocente." * * *

[60]

"Non so se e'l'immaginata luceDel suo primo Fattor che l'alma sente,O se dalla memoria. * * *Alcuna altra bella nel cor traluce,* * * * * * *Del tuo primiero stato il raggio ardenteDi sè lasciando un non so che cocente." * * *

[61]"La buona coscienza che l'uom franchigia,Sotto l'usbergo di sentirsi pura."—Dante.

[61]

"La buona coscienza che l'uom franchigia,Sotto l'usbergo di sentirsi pura."—Dante.

[62]"To what am I reserved?" writes Angelo in another piece. "To live long? that terrifies me. The shortest life is yet too long for the recompense obtained in serving with devotion."

[63]"Ahi, che null altro che pianto al mondo dura!"—Petrarca.

[64]"Ogni altro ben val men ch'una mia doglia!"

[65]* * * * "Chi t'ama con fedeSi leva a Dio, e fa dolce la morte."

[65]

* * * * "Chi t'ama con fedeSi leva a Dio, e fa dolce la morte."

[66]Speech of Sir R. Peel at the Tamworth election, pp. 4, 5.—Ollivier, Pall-Mall.

[67]Ibid.pp. 8, 9.

Transcribers notes:Maintained original spelling and punctuation.Silently corrected a few typesetting errors.

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