"THE WONDROUS TALE OF ALROY." 29 "Alroy"-the Wondrous Tale of Alroy-was the last of the three romances, for which the world is indebted to Lord Beaconsfield's Eastern tour, and was given to the world in the spring of 1833. It was more thoroughly imbued with the Eastern spirit than any other of his works"Tancred" itself not excepted-and if it stood alone it would probably suffice to place its author on a very high level. Beckford's "Vathek" and Hope's "Anastatius" have given their authors a certain sort of immortality -"Alroy" would have done more for Lord Beaconsfield but for the fact that he afterwards eclipsed it so marvellously. The book is written in a style of its own, a sort of rhythmical prose which from time to time becomes absolute verse, and what is more, rhymed verse, which has an almost burlesque aspect when printed as prose. It is, however, a work of genius, and as such it was recognised from the first, though it found also not a few hostile and some malignant critics. Maginn bantered the young author in the pages of Fraser's Magazine, and the northern critics seem to have been puzzled what to say about the book. The Athenæum, as usual, spoke with fairness and good sense. "Those who read to the fortieth page of this tale,” says that journal in its issue of the 9th of March, 1833, “then close the work for ever and call the author a wild enthusiast, who deals in extravagant legends and supernatural fictions, will do him the greatest injustice. Wild his work is assuredly-extravagant sometimes to an utmost wish, and supernatural even to the very limits of poetic belief; but then genius is stamped on every page; feelings such as the Muse delights in abound, nay overflow: while a true heroic loftiness of soul, such as influenced devout men of old when they warred for their country, glows and flashes through the whole narrative. Nor is this all—there is a deep infusion of the spirit of Judah in it—not the fallen and money-changing spirit of these our latter days, but of that martial and devout spirit which kindled in the Hebrew bosoms of old when their daughters sang 'Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.' We have been nursed as we were in our youth when, with the Bible on our knees, we went wondering over the heroes of Israel. Carmel is again before us and Jerusalem with all her banners." Such a criticism must have been grateful to the young author, inasmuch as it exhibits that rarest of all emotions-sympathy between the critic and his subject. With such a subject, however, it would have been strange if sympathy bad not been aroused. The story of Alroy is a stirring one. He is a young prince of the House of Judah. Roused by a sense of oppression to the highest point of heroism he raises the banner of his people, and, for a time, restores the fallen fortunes of his nation. The fortune of war is, however, against him, and at last he dies overwhelmed by his adversaries, but preserving to the last his double character of poet and hero. To the tale of "Alroy" the author-not perhaps altogether wisely-added "Iskander "—the history of a Christian placed in a somewhat similar position, but achieving a happier end. In later editions this work is usually omitted. Though never very popular in England "Alroy" was from the first successful in Germany, and at least two translations of it are known to exist. It may be convenient in this place to mention that for several years after his return from the East "the author of Vivian Grey"" was a contributor to Lady Blessington's Annuals. In the "Book of Beauty" for 1835, he has a story called "The Carrier Pigeon," obviously written to illustrate a sentimental engraving from a drawing by Daniel Maclise, then a rising young artist. The hero of the story, oddly enough, is Lothair: the "pretty page" Theodore. In the volume for the succeeding year he has a story called "The Consul's Daughter," of greater length and greater pretension, but not really remarkable. The volume for 1837 contains some verses "to a maiden sleeping after her first ball," written to illustrate, perhaps, the weakest of Maclise's drawings. The lines, however, are worthy of reproduction: "Dreams come from Jove, the poet says; But as I watch the smile That on thy lips now softly plays, Venus may also send a shade To whisper to a slumbering maid. What dark-eyed youth now culls the flower Or whispers in the starry hour Words fairer than thy face? The ardent vow that ne'er can fail, prove Sleep on, sweet maid, nor sigh to break Who wakes to love awake but knows The volume in which these verses were published contains also a frag ment "by the author of 'Vivian Grey"" with the title "Calantha." I is supposed to expound the meaning of a sentimental plate from a drawing LADY BLESSINGTON'S ANNUALS. 31 by Mra. Sayfforth, but it is so indifferent a production, that no one need be surprised by the author's refusal to reproduce it. Much the same verdict will probably be delivered with regard to a Syrian sketch in the volume for 1838; the last of the fugitive pieces, with the two following exceptions, from the hand of "Disraeli the younger," which I have been able to trace. The following lines, with a statuette in silver of the late Duke of Wellington, were long preserved at Stowe. Their date is not given, but they were probably written about this year: "Not only that thy puissant arm could bind Fitful and wild, but that continuous state In some benignant and enriching wind, The breath ordained of Nature. Thy calm mien Duty thy only idol, and serene When all are troubled; in the utmost need Yet sovereign of thyself whate'er may speed." The following sonnet-a worthy companion-was printed in the "Bock of Beauty" for 1839: "ON THE PORTRAIT OF LADY MAHON. (NOW COUNTESS STANHOPE). "Fair Lady; thee the pencil of Vandyke Might well have painted; thine the English air, CHAPTER II. A CANDIDATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY HONOURS. Abandons literature for politics-Stands for High Wycombe in opposition to Colonel Grey-Is attacked for his Toryism-Nominated by a Tory and seconded by a Radical-The Reform Bill passes-Dissolution of Parliament -Mr. Disraeli's address-Attacks on the Whigs-The "new National Party' -Again defeated-Asked to stand for the county-Again defeated at High Wycombe-Irish Coercion Bill-Dissolution of the Melbourne Ministry"The Crisis Examined"—The agricultural interest-Election at Taunton— O'Connell and his compact with the Whigs-Attack upon Mr. DisraeliCalls upon Morgan O'Connell for the satisfaction of a gentleman"-I§ refused-Writes to O'Connell and sends a copy of his letter to the TimesControversy with the Globe-Intimacy with Lyndhurst-The "Vindication of the Constitution "-Analysis of the book-Runnymede Letters-Admiration for Peel-"Henrietta Temple " "—" Venetia "-Death of William IV. -General election-Stands for Maidstone-Address to the electors-The New Poor Law-Member for Maidstone. In the preface to a later edition of "Contarini Fleming," Lord Beaconsfield speaks, as we have seen, of a certain "discouragement from farther effort," caused by the comparative failure of that work. These words must, however, be taken with a qualification. That he was discouraged from making farther literary efforts for the time being is unquestionably true, but a mind so active and so versatile could not waste itself in repose. Politics afforded a field for his energies, and to politics accordingly he turned himself with his accustomed vigour. During the exciting period of the struggle for Catholic Emancipation and for Reform, he had been absent on those travels which served so remarkably to mature his intellectual powers, and to convert him from the curled darling of fashionable drawing-rooms into the cool, steady, and earnest statesman he so early became. He returned to England in the spring of 1832, when the great struggle for reform was practically over, and when the eventual triumph of the Whig Reform Bill was a mere question of weeks. Just before it passed, however, an opportunity for entering public life presented itself, of which "Disraeli the younger was not slow to take advantage. Bradenham House, to which his father had retired at the instigation of his friends the Pyes, was very near to High Wycombe, and when a seat for that not very important constituency became vacant, it was natural that the son of its owner should solicit the suffrages of his neighbours. He did so accordingly upon independent grounds, allying himself neither with Radicals nor with Tories, and professing little by way of political creed STANDS FOR HIGH WYCOMBE. 83 beyond a tolerably fervent hatred of the Whigs, coupled with an equally sincere distrust of them. He hoped, in fact, to secure the support of the two extreme parties in his opposition to the middle-class Whigs, and the local organ of the latter party fell foul of him from the first. His political creed was declared to be unintelligible; his political friends and supporters an anomalous faction, united in nothing save their opposition to the beneficent party which was bestowing upon the country the blessing of a £10 franchise. The Bucks Gazette stigmatised him from the first, however, as a Tory. It was true that he enjoyed Radical support, but he was also patronised by the Tories, and that fact was quite enough for the Whig organ-which, by the way, might have served the author of " Pickwick" as the model of the Eatanswill Gazette. In its columns the young candidate is described with scathing sarcasm as a person of "no political character, but very vaguely pledged . . . . whose first act, when all was open to him, was to place his interests into (sic) the hands of a notorious Tory agent, the representative in Wycombe of all that is politically detestable in Bucks." .... Nomination day was fixed for the 30th of June, and Colonel Greya son of the Prime Minister, and afterwards the General Grey to whom the world is indebted for the first volume of the "Life of the Prince Consort," having been duly nominated and seconded, Mr. Disraeli's turn came. He was proposed by a Tory-a Mr. Treacher, and seconded by a Radical-a Mr. King. It would be difficult to imagine a more unequal contest. On the one side was a very young man of whose political opinions the electors knew as much as he chose to tell them and no more; who had a certain reputation in London society as the author of one or two fashionable novels, which had been very cordially abused by the hirelings of the press, and who appeared as the representative of certain principles which at that moment were in the lowest depth of unpopularity. He had no family influence to back him, and his earnest devotion to the cause of the people was sufficient to ruin him for ever with the "respectable" middle class. On the other hand, the Whig candidate was a gentleman of unimpeachable character, known to the electors personally, of fascinating manners and address, and supported by all the prestige which could be given by the facts that he was a son of the Prime Minister, who was carrying through Parliament one of the most popular measures ever passed, and that he enjoyed the countenance and support of the "great families" of the county. In such a case the end may readily be predicted, but that end was not reached without a gallant fight. Called upon for his speech, Mr. Disraeli, in spite of interruptions which would have daunted a man of less nerve and resolution, delivered himself of a worthy address. He told the electors that he came before them as an independent man, and that he wore the badge of no party. Reform had come, but he did not consider the alteration of the franchise D |