Contents.

xxix

CHAPTER IV.

MEMBER FOR SHREWSBURY.-PROTECTIONISM.

The Conservative Majority-Lord Melbourne's retirement-Peel is sent for-

State of the country—Issue of half farthings-Misery of the working-

classes—Mr. Disraeli speaks on commercial policy-State of Ireland-

O'Connell's agitation-His trial, sentence, and liberation-Approaching

famine-Unscrupulousness of O'Connell-Wretchedness of his tenants—

Mr. Disraeli on Irish questions-Session of 1844-Speech on Lord John

Russell's Irish motion-On Maynooth-On Coercion-Becomes lieutenant

to Lord George Bentinck-The Whig treatment of Irish distress-Lord

George Bentinck on Irish railways-Warmly supported by Mr. Disraeli

-Anti-Corn Law agitation-The Leaguers not always wise-Ireland joins

them-Peel's wavering-Import duties abolished in Ireland by a Cabinet

memorandum-Peel resigns-Lord John sent for-Fails to form a

government-Peel returns to office a Free Trader-Disgust of his party

-Session of 1846—Queen's Speech-Intrigues concerning the Coercion

Bill-Resignation of Peel-Lord John again sent for-Prorogation of

Parliament and general election-Mr. Disraeli throughout the lieutenant

of Lord George Bentinck-Has himself related the history of this

struggle-Why he quarrelled with Peel-His powers of invective-

Assaults on the ex-leader of the Tories-Peel's reply-The Sugar-duties

-The Session of 1847-Mr. Disraeli's speeches-Close of the Session-

Mr. Disraeli retires from Shrewsbury-Buys Hughenden Manor-

Addresses the electors of Buckinghamshire-Is opposed by Dr. Lee, but

returned without even the formality of a show of hands-Busy with

literature "Coningsby "-"Young England"-The Duke of Rutland

and Lord Strangford-What the reviews said-Personalities-"Sybil "

and "Tancred"-Thomas Cooper the Chartist-"Tancred an anticipa-

tion of modern religious criticism-Great speech at the Manchester

Athenæum

PAGE

. 184

CHAPTER V.

LEADER OF THE TORIES.

Mr. Disraeli speaks on the Address (Nov. 1847)—Jewish disabilities-Speech

of Mr. Disraeli-Lord George Bentinck retires from the Protectionist

leadership Mr. Disraeli succeeds him-Chartist disturbances-Irish

disaffection-Mitchel's case-
-State of the Continent-Sir Henry Bulwer

expelled from Madrid-Mr. Disraeli on the subject-Speech on intrigues

in Italy-Reviews the conduct and policy of the Government-Attacks

on Lord John Russell-Death of Lord George Bentinck-The Queen's

Speech-Mr. Disraeli on the Address-Moves resolutions on the burdens

on land-Hume's amendment-Protectionist agitation-Mr. Disraeli

returns to the charge-The aristocratic principle-Declares war against

the Ministry-his Motion "not a flash in the pan"-Advocates

reciprocity as the principle of foreign commercial relations-Mr. Cobden

recommends a little agitation "Mr. Disraeli at Castle Hedingham—

Mr. Cobden at Aylesbury-Protectionist meetings-Session of 1850-

Speech from the throne-Mr. Disraeli on agricultural distress-Returns

to the subject-Criticises the budget-Agricultural interests-Papal

aggression-The Durham letter-Mr. Disraeli's remarks upon it-

Opening of Parliament-Ecclesiastical Titles Bill-The Government

saved by the Exhibition-Agricultural distress-Government defeated

on Mr. Locke King's county franchise motion-Retires-Lord Derby

sent for Refusal to form an administration unless he may appeal to the

country-Negotiations with the Peelites -Interregnum-Lord John

returns to office-The amended Budget-Mr. Disraeli on the Income and

Property Tax-Has long abandoned the idea of re-imposing a duty on

corn-Beginning of the end-Address to Buckinghamshire farmers-

Lord John Russell expels Palmerston from the Cabinet-Interference of

the Queen in the matter-Lord Granville sworn in-Lord John explains

-Mr. Disraeli's criticism on his speech--The New Reform Bill-The

Militia Bill-Palmerston's amendment-Defeat of the Government—

Lord Derby is sent for-Mr. Disraeli chosen Chancellor of the Exchequer

-Address on re-election-Lord Derby's Protectionism-"The Rupert of

Parliamentary Discussion."

CHAPTER VI.

CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER.

Questioned by Mr. Villiers-Declines to pledge himself on his policy for the

next year-The constitution of the Opposition-The New Militia Bill—

Factious opposition of Lord John Russell and the Whigs-Budget-

Renewal of Income and Property Tax-General satisfaction with the

finance of the Government-Lord Derby at the Mansion House-Alarm

of the Free Traders-The St. Albans and Sudbury Bills-Defeat of the

Government-Close of the Session-Great measures carried for which the

Whigs claim credit-Attacks of Lord John Russell-Mr. Disraeli's reply

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261

-Import duty on Corn no longer possible-General Election-Address

to the electors-Result of the elections--Convocation restored-The New

Parliament-Queen's Speech-Debate on the Address-Mr. Villiers's

attempt to hamper the Government-The resolutions-Mr. Disraeli's

amendment-Speech thereon-Mr. Disraeli and Sir Robert Peel-Their

position defined—Attacks upon the former-Lord Palmerston's amend-

ment-Accepted by the Government-Defeat of the Whigs-Mr.

Disraeli's second budget-Analysis of its details-Ways and Means-

Whig misrepresentations-General characteristics of the scheme-The

debate Mr. Disraeli's reply-The division-Not a minister on sufferance

-Out of office.

PAGE

345

CHAPTER VII.

AGAIN IN OPPOSITION.

The Coalition Government-A strong administration-Clouds in the East-

At home-Ministerial indiscretions-The French alliance-Attacks on

foreign powers-Analysis of the situation-The Budget-Conceived in a

spirit of hostility to the land-Anti-Russian feeling in England-A new

Reform Bill-Palmerston's resignation—Absurd reports about the Prince

Consort-Opening of the Session-Ministerial explanations-Speech on

the Address-Lord John's Reform Bill-Drifting into war-Speech on

the Government policy-Preparations for war―The Supplemental Budget

-Criticisms of the chief of the Opposition-Government war policy-

Prorogation of Parliament--Landing of the Allies in the Crimea-

Vacillation of Lord Aberdeen-Speech on the conduct of the war-The

Prince Consort's Proposals-Lord John Russell "upsets the coach "—

Re-assembling of Parliament, January, 1855-The Crimean Inquiry-

Collapse of the Government-The Interregnum-Palmerston Prime

Minister-Speech of Mr. Disraeli-Retirement of the Peelites-Minis-

terial explanations-Sir G. C. Lewis's Budget-Failure of the Vienna

Conference-" Ambiguous language and uncertain conduct of the

Government"-Resolution-Aggressive war and protective diplomacy—

Amendments-Lord John Russell at Vienna-Retirement of Lord John

Russell-Cabinet sympathy with the Peace party-Prorogation and the

Queen's Speech.

. 386

THE PUBLIC LIFE

OF

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELD, K.G.

CHAPTER I.

FAMILY HISTORY AND EARLY YEARS.

By descent a Jew-The Sephardim-The Inquisition-The exodus from SpainThe settlement in England-The Disraeli family never poor-Benjamin Disraeli at Enfield-Isaac Disraeli-The "Curiosities of Literature "Brunet's opinion of them-Controversy with Bolton Corney—The "Genius of Judaism"-Never a Jew-Withdraws finally from the SynagogueBaptism of Benjamin Disraeli-Education-The "celebrated Dr. Cogan In the office of a firm of solicitors-The Representative-Lord Beaconsfield never connected with it-Mr. Macknight's attack-The Star Chamber—The "Dunciad of To-day"-" Vivian Grey"-Keys to the novel-Brougham upon it-Disraeli a personage in society-Lady Blessington-"Captain Popanilla" -Eastern Tour-"The Revolutionary Epick "-Analysis of the Poem— Reviews "The Young Duke," "Contarini Fleming," and "Alroy.”

LORD BEACONSFIELD, as all the world knows, is by descent. a Jew. Unlike the majority of Hebrews, however, he has at no time been ashamed of the race from which he springs, but has always manifested a certain amount of pride in the fact that he belongs to the most ancient nation on earth. And well may he do so. In the graceful and touching memoir which he prefixed to the edition of his father's works published in 1849, he tells

YOL. I.

B