The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-23 00:00:00

....... 4d.
STAMPED...... 51.

METROPOLI7 AN GOSSIP--Thursday.

A week ago I stated my conviction that, all rumours to
the contrary notwithstanding, the elections would be corn
pleted in November, and l'arliament would have time to
hold an ante-Christmas session. That conviction your
readers will see was well founded, and it is now probable
that members will take the oaths even before the
first of December. Politicians are now making up
their books, and cal( Watin,g the Majority which
Mr. Gladstone will have. That he have
a considerable majoril y is admitted by both parties ; but the
number varies from :30 to 1:30. This vide diversity is due
to several causes. One of them is the increasing divisions
among the Liberal party. Scarcely a day passes hut. hat
some fresh Liberal candidate starts up to do battle with a
Liberal. In Marylebone, for instance, there are now four
Liberal candidates contending against each other, and the
consequence is that Mr. Stanford, an old Conservative
ex-ALP., has come forward, in the hope of profiting by this
schism. Even old and tried Liberals, who have held
office in Liberal Administrations, like Sir William Hutt,
are opposed, and both he and another Whig ex-official, Mr.
Bouverie, find themselves compelled to go to the poll after
about a quarter of a century's unopposed elections. This
is one source of hope to the Conservative party. Another
reason which induces them to place the Opposition at the
low figure above mentioned is the strong Conservative
feeling which has been found to exist among the
working men of Lancashire. I hear of this
from politicians of both sides, and both seem equally
surprised at it. The upper stratum of this
.class,
such as foremen and viewers, are undoubtedly Liberal ;
these possessed the franchise before. But the lower
stratum, who are now enfranchised for the first time,
have displayed an amount of downright Toryism which
has amazed no one more than the Tory leaders themselves.
They used to talk of the Conservative working man, but
they did not believe in him. Now, however, they find
that he is not entirely the man of straw they thought
' him. This unexpected deposit of Conservatism
appears to be due to several causes. In the first place, the
working classes have not forgotten nor forgiven the oppo-
sition which was offered by the manufacturers to the Ten
Hours' Bill and the subsequent Factory Acts, The bene-
fits of that measure are now seen to be so great that those
who have profited by them are irritated by the thought that
any one should have attempted to deprive them of those
advantages. In the next place, there is always an anta-
gonism between the foremen class and the ordinary
operatives, so that if the first had been Conservatives
it is very probable that the second would have been
Liberals. Thirdly, the conduct of Lord Derby and several
other distinguished Conservative noblemen during the
cotton famine contrasted in a very marked manner with
the conduct of certain well-known manufacturers, of
Liberal opinions, and not at all to the advantage of the
latter. Lastly, there is in Lancashire a war of races and
creeds of which your readers living in other parts of
England can have no conception. It is this antago-
nism which makes a measure like the disestablishment of
the Irish Church tell greatly against the Liberal party.
That measure is doubly objectionable. It is in the esti-
mation of the working man a concession to Irishmen ; it
is a concession to Popery ; and therefore it is that a large
number of them will probably make the first use of the
franchise by giving it to the Conservative candidates.
In consequence of these and other causes too numerous
to mention, the Conservatives expect to win several seats
which an ordinary observer would have supposed safe for
the Liberals. My Tory friends tell me that they are safe
for one seat in Manchester and even in Salford, which has
never yet returned a Liberal. In the latter borough a
large number of operatives are canvassing, when their
day's work is over, without payment, in behalf of the Con-
servative candidates. For the county seats in Lancashire
the contest will be very severe. Lord Derby is devoting
all his energies, and a very large sum of money, to defeat-
ing Mr. Gladstone in one division and the Cavendish
interest in another. Some time ago it was confi-
dently expected that Mr. Gladstone would be beaten,
but the registrations have been so far favourable
that the result is extremely doubtful. Mr. Gladstone, I
know, is tolerably sanguine, and has written within the
last few days to an influential member of the late Govern-
ment expressing satisfaction at the progress he has made ;
but there is no doubt that the contest will be very close,
and the Liberal party have prepared for the worst by
amalgamating the Gladstone committee with the Salo-
mons committee at Greenwich, and rigidly suppressing all
sanerfluous_Liberal candidates. This is absolutely neces-
sary, as I happen to Ina,— ea-• fl Ail 2 ft,t.a
candidate was talked of, a young artillery officer at
Greenwich immediately began canvassing in the Conser-
vative interest, and obtained a large number of promises.
Now that the Liberals have closed their ranks he has
withdrawn. In North Lancashire, where the Houses of
Stanley and Cavendish are fighting, the Marquis of liar-
tington is spending £l,OOO a week. In Carlisle the con-
test will be very keen. Dean Close's manifesto bas
frightened a large number of Churchmen who ordinarily
vote for the Liberals, and Sir Wilfrid Lawson
will have to fight hard to prevent a repetition
of the defeat which he sustained in 1865. Per contra,
at Frome Mr. Hughes will walk over the course,
for Mr. Walmesley has retired. This is due in some
measure to the conduct of the vicar, Mr. Bennett, who
was so disgusted with the treatment which he received at
the last vestry meeting from the Low Church and Con-
servative party, that he has withdrawn from politics alto-
gether, and has even taken his name off the books at
Oxford, so that he will not vote for Mr. Mowbray.
At Canterbury the election excites unusual interest
from the fact that Mr. Butler-Johnstone, who has
for some time past disavowed Mr. Disraeli's
leadership, has at last openly joined the Liberal ranks, as
another clever young Oxonian, Mr. Auberon Herbert, had
done before him. Both stood as Conservatives at the
last election ; both stand as Liberals now. In this they
do but represent the "Young Oxford" party, do but set
forth visibly the rapid and startling change which has
come over that once most Tory university—a change
which has driven forth from its professoriate, Mr.
Goldwin Smith, Mr. Thorold Rogers, Mr. Congreve, and
which would perfectly amaze some of the old-fashioned
country clergy, who remember Oxford in the days of the
" Tracts."

Of all the elections, none, except South-west Lanca-
shire, excites half the interest that the Oxford University
does. There again the contest will be very sAere. The
Liberals have picked out the very best man they could
have chosen. The same can hardly be said for the Con-
servatives—at least if it can it does 'not speak well for
Conservative statesmanship. The issue, however, will not
depend entirely, perhaps not chiefly upon the personal m erits
of the candidates. The matter is complicated by theological
considerations. For instance, Sir Roundell Palmer is a
High Churchman, and will receive the support of Dr. Pusey,
and no doubt of Mr. Liddon (though the Bishop of Gloucester
and Bristol intended to make every effort to convert the
latter distinguished divine when at Gloucester yesterday).
But in spite of this support, Sir Roundell Palmer is likely
to receive the support of a large number of the Low
Church party, who profess themselves disgusted at
the recent Church appointments of the present Govern-
ment. That the Bishop of Carlisle should canvass in
behalf of Sir Roundel' Palmer is not surprising, consider.
ing that Sir Roundell married Bishop Waldegrave's sister.
But other well-known Low Churchmen who supported Mr.
Hardy in 1865 mean to support the ex-Attorney-G-eneral
on the present occasion. Among them is Canon Champ-
ne) s. , On the other hand, Bishop Anderson has promised
to join Mr. Mowbray's committee.
While Mr. Disraeli fully expects to be beaten at the
elections, he is not at all cast down. He has carried on
Government with a minority for more than two years, and
he sees no reason why he should not continue to do so.
The Irish Church question is, of course, hopeless. He knew
that long ago ; he knew that directly he saw the Noncon-
formists were not to be converted by the cry of "No
Popery." Even Sir Stafford Northcote now refuses to
pledge himself to vote against disestablishment.
What has passed in the Cabinet within the Cabinet—
what the triumvirate have determined to do, the public has
yet had no means of knowing, for neither Mr. Hardy nor
Lord Stanley has yet spoken on the question of the day.
But I have very good reason to believe that the Premier
is contemplating another great coup, another great feat of
strategy, by which he will once more "dish" the
Liberals. This is not the adoption of the Ballot—
though that will probably be very shortly an article
of the Conservative creed—but the introduction of a large
measure of tenant-right in Ireland. He believes
that the land, far more than the Church question, is the
source of Irish discontent ; so, while Mr. Gladstone is ham-
mering away in speech after bpeech at the Irish Church,
proving what no real statesman can deny, though he may
affect to do so, Mr. Disraeli is quietly engaged in working
out a great measure for pacifying her Majesty's subjects in
Ireland, which will probably be laid upon the table on
he first night of the session. With this measure
he hopes to render it impossible for the Liberal
party to act together. The Irish Liberal members and
the English Radicals will, he believes, refuse to support a
vote of want of confidence in the Ministry which has

„~-~ -- ~

-Vaught forward such a bill. It will be the old policy
again—a professedly Tory Minister dividing his oppo-
nents by offering them Liberal measures which they
cannot rsject, and persuading his supporters to accept
those measures as the only means of keeping in office.
Divide et impera is Mr. Disraeli's motto and policy. Of
course, Conservative principles are scattered to the winds.
But then the Conservative leader is a Radical at heart—a
cunning master of oratory, who knows that he can always
make the "stupid party" do what he likes if he will only
give them high-sounding phrases—" vital principles "—to
satisfy them.
Should Mr. Disraeli be unsuccessful, and the Liberal
party prove as united as they did in 1859, Mr. Gladstoire
will find his difficulties by no means surmounted. The
most powerful influence would be exerted to keep the Pre-
miership out of his hands, and to place it in those of
Earl Granville. The " influential quarters "—one is obliged
to use these awkward periplirasos • in speaking of such
delicate matters—Clough differing in ecclesiastical mat tern,
are agreed in political ; and would both desire, if the pre-
sent Government were compelled ;o resign, a new version
of the oil Whig family Alinistries, such as would ineude
Lord G'rativilie and Lord Clarendon. But lam inclined
to think that popular feeling will prove too strong, and
that the nation will insist upon the leader of the Liberal
party de jure being loather de facto.
The Stock Exchange kiled Mr. Gladstone on Tuesdar.
The news that he had died suth7enly was spread far and
wide. Fortunately the electric telegraph enables one to
contradict a lie almost as soon as it is uttered. It had not
even a chance of the twenty-four hours' life which the
First Napoleon said was all that was needed to get a lie
accepted as an historical fact. A telegram to Liverpool
brought back almost immediate information that the story
was utterly false. The next day's papers sheaved that
the Liberal leader was very much alive indeed—l was
going to say almost too much so, for his speeches now are
becoming a little wearisome. Some of your readers will
perhaps sympathise with the disappointment of those
clergymen who had already begun to write their sermons
in which the awful fate of the modern Pilate—Herod—
Judas—Devil—was set forth with forty-parson power,
as a warning to all sacrilegious statesmen who venture to
touch that sacred ark, the revenues of the Irish Church.
By the way it may, be news to some—of • those gentlemen
that Mr. Gladstone's second son is working as a curate in
one of the poorest parishes of Lambeth.
I have spoken of the episcopal appointments of the pre
sent Government. They are a good deal discussed, both
with regard to the past and the future. The long delay
which took place in the appointment to Peterborough was
due to the urgency with which Dean Stanley's promotion
was desired in a very influential quarter. Mr. Disraeli
had to summon up all his firmness to resist that appoint-
, went. He argued that Dr. Stanley was a distinguished
Liberal, and that his appointment by a Conservative
Government would be fatal to that Government. The
Premier had to resist great pressure from another quarter
which was exerted in behalf of Archdeacon Denison, and
who is now spoken of as a likely successor to the aged
Bishop of Exeter. Dean Magee owes his promotion
chiefly to the strong recommendation of Mr. Walpole.
It is a mistake to suppose that he is the Low Churchman
he has been described. His orthodoxy is vouched for, not
only by Mr. Walpole, but by the Bishop of Oxford and
the Bishop of Salisbury. Should the archiepiscopal see
of Canterbury become vacant shortly—which, I fear, is
somewhat probable, for private information tells me that
Archbishop Longley is in a state to inspire much appre-
hension, though he is somewhat better this morning—
Mr. Disraeli, if he should be in office, will in all
probability translate the Bishop of Oxford. If
Lord Derby had continued Premier, Bishop Selwyn
would have had the best chance. Should Mr. Glad-
stone be the Premier, Bishop Jacobson would be the
most likely to get the metropolitanship. Dean Stanley's
great ambition is to be made Bishop of Oxford, where he
might assist the Liberal movement to which he is so
ardently devoted. It is just possible, therefore, that a
Liberal Government wonld make way for him by pro-
moting Bishop Wilberforce. Such an arrangement might
meet with approval in the influential quarter before men-
tioned, and at the same time not be viewed with dissatis-
faction in another quarter only less influential where
the ecclesiastical sympathies are in quite another direc-
tion, as those who were at All Saints' Church, Margaret-
street, last Sunday, might have seen.
I hear bad news of the_Dowager Duchess of Sutherland.
Her Grace was the sister of the late Earl of Carlisle, and
was the most beautiful of all the ladies who shed their
grace on the Court of Queen Victoria when her Majesty
came to the throne. The Duchess is now in a very pre-
carious state. She was born in 1806, and was married in
1823 to the second duke, who died seven years ago. Her
daughters are the wives respectively of the Duke of
Argyll, Lord Blantyre, the Marquis of Kildare, and Earl
Grosvenor.

Another addition was made yesterday to the handsome
churches of the West End. The church of St. Mary
Magdalen, Paddington, was opened, and no fewer than
• :--- 3.-3-1 la
There
-
There were enormous congregations, and a large rmber
of persons were unable to obtain admittance at the chief
service, the midday celebration, when Mr. Carter, of
Clewer, was the preacher. The ritual here would be thought
advanced by a Low Churchman probably ; but a Purchas
or a G reenwell would think it very defective. There
is no incense used, nor are coloured vestments worn. The
chief feature of the church is the great height of the altar,
which is raised ten steps above the nave, and is surmounted
by a very beautiful reredos. The church when completed
will have cost £30,000. At present about £20,000 have been
spent on it, and the greater portion of this sum, together
with the sum for providing endowment, and another large
sum for purchasing ground for erecting schools, have been
raised in less than four years, and in addition to the
stipends of four or five clergy, through the
voluntary offerings of a congregation less than
five hundred iu number. The offertories have fre-
quently been over £5OO on a single day. The church
will not be consecrated at present. The High Church clergy
no longer attach the importance to this ceremony which
they used to attach. They find an advantage in postponing
it, since it gives them greater freedom, both from the bishop
and from any " aggrieved parishioners." In the above-
mentioned church there is a daily celebration of the Holy
Communion, and three or four celebrations on Sunday. At
the luncheon, after the opening service, there was a
large gathering of the clergy and laity. Two
clerics were conspicuous by their absence. One was
Mr. Bennett, of Frome, who, being under prosecution
for heresy on the part of the Bishop of London, takes no
part in any service in that diocese, in accordance with
ecclesiastical etiquette. The other absentee was Arch-
deacon Denison, who, at a gathering of the same congrega-
tion a few months back, made a speech so inappropriately
political, that his absence was probably no source of regret
yesterday. I should add that Mr. Street is the architect
of this church, and returned thanks to the toast of his
health. I am told that this gentleman is to receive
£lO,OOO a year for five years as architect of the New Law
Courts.

Mr. Goldwin Smith's lecture on the Earl of Chatham
last night was well attended. Mr. Dickens's readings are
crammed to overflowing, so that Messrs. Chappell will, I
should think, make a good thing of him, though they have
.to pay him £SO a night for one hundred nights. At
that rate Mr. Dickens will not do so badly either.
Another well-known reader has lately joined the Roman
Catholic Church, having been taken over by his wife. His
conversion is not yet openly announced, but he has given
up the chapel of which he was incumbent. As he will
now consider himself a layman, I should not be surprised
to learn that he had been translated from the pulpit to the
footlights. He has long had a passionate desire to go on
the stage, and his very dramatic reading shews that he has
qualifications for the theatre such as I scarcely think he
possessed for the Church.

Two other items of London gossip I may deal with.
Miss Alderson (the daughter of Baron Alderson) is not
the author of the articles on the " Women of the Period"
in the Saturday Review. The writer is a lady well known
to the public under her own name, and she has been not a
little pained at the severe strictures which have been
passed upon her strictures. She wrote them with the
best motive, and they certainly have produced a very
marked effect upon London society, where the loud,
cigar-smoking " girl of the period" is going out of fashion.
The other item is another contradiction. Mr. Robert
Browning is not going to be married to Miss Jean Ingelow,
nor to any other lady.

I must compress- my literary news into the smallest
compass. Messrs. Hurst and Blackett are just publishing
a novel, " Brothers-in-Law," by a new author, a Bath
lady, who has written in several of the quarterlies. The
same firm have just published another Bath lady's (Miss
Jolly's) new book, "Pearl," and it is well spoken of. A
third lady novelist in the same city, the authoress of " Son
and Heir" and " Kingsford," is engaged on a new tale.
Mr. Murray is publishing the lives of Lord Lynd-
hurst and Lord Brougham, which we now learn
for the first time that Lord Campbell wrote
before his death, which preceded theirs by two years
in the one case, and seven in the other. Messrs. Black
are publishing a life of Professor Goodsir, the eminent
Edinburgh professor. Messrs. Strahan are bringing out
a selection from the works of John Henry New-
man. Lady Herbert has just written a life of
St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. The well.
known firm of Smith and Elder have just dissolved
partnership. There was no " Elder" really in the firm.
Mr. George Smith, the proprietor of the Pall Mall Gazette,
continues the publishing business ; his late partner, Mr.
King, will carry on the banking and East Indian business.