The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-04


ofhis school days at Harrow, are remember
ed by the writer, he does not recollect that
Peel was ever engaged in any ofthem. Not
that he was wanting either IN enterprise or
courage-delects which public school new
er leaves unreveOled or unvisited, yet OF
which no one suspected him; butt was Of
that even or perhaps Indifferent tempera-
ment, that he did not readily take sides or
warmly enlist, with any particular set Pos
sibly in this trait of boyhoOd may he found
some explanation and illustration of several
passages in his subsequent public career7---
From like causes, perhaps, he was not much
renowned Mt cricket, at football, or at hunt
ing the hare-all exercises requiring violent
and long continued bodily eXertion-but pre-
iered passing the hours of play in solitary
ralnblings, perhaps half nIusing, which kept
the mind in activity without iatiguing the
| body. ,..#
The school al Harrow was then ofgreat &C.
| lebrity, and was the resort of the sons of TO-
bles and commoners. Amongst others who
were the school fellows of Peel AT this time
was Lord Byron, who thus speaks ofthe sub
iect oftiis notice.
"Peel, the orator and states man, THAT waF,
or is, or is to be- was my form iellow,and We
were both at the top of our remove. We
were on good terms, hut his brother was my
intimate friend. There were always great
hopes of Peel amongst us all-maslers and
scholars--and he has not disappointed them.
us n scholar he was greatly my superior; as a
declaimer and actor was reckohed ut least
his equal as IA school-boy oH school was
GiirdyS u, scrapes, he neUer, and in school lie
always knew his lessons, and rarely But
when knew it, | knew il nearly as well. In
general information, history, &c. g., think
was his superior, us well us of most boys of
my standing"
From Harrow, Peel passed TO the Univer-
Sity of Oxford, aud was entered commoner
of Christ Church. Here as at Harrow, lac be-
came distinguished for classical attainments
and the highest proficiency in mathematics;
aud unlike many of the sons of the wealthy
(ior at this time the father ofyoung Peel had
become very richl his college course was
free from tie Irregularities notoriously
prevalent amongst his associates III the Uni
versiN. Al the early age of 81, through the
influence of the faiher, Mr. Peel was return
ed 10 Parliament for the borough of Cashel,
| the father at the same time representing las
the sun now does Mat of Tan,Worh. This
occurred in The year 1909. Broughom, Pal
mcrston, Robinson and Rippon entered the
! House of commons the same session with
Peel, and that assembly then contained Can
ming, CasrlereGeh Wmdham, Sheridan,
Iieney, and otl.cr names memorable III
| English history. The first speech of MIR
| Peel was attic opening oftlc session la 1910
being then in his Esd year, Feconding the adj
drcsS& although that q succeeding ones dur
| ing the session were looked on uspFonsiug,
tley were Tot regarded ms indicating any su-
/ peroriiy over tlI0se OF others of his age.
| Peel first came 10 hold office under gov
erumenti in the Year 1912 after dissolution
of the cabifct cnused by the assassination Of
Mr. Pierciyu, lis heed, in tic lobby OF the
Parliament. q new administration was form
ed, with Lord Liverpool as First Minister;and
the Duke of Richmond being appointed Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland, Peel. then IS years of
age, was appointed Chief Secretary Tor that
countiy,n position he held until the year 1873.
While holding this place he was elected the
Representative in Parliament of the Iniyer-
sity ofOXtord. He resigned the Secretary
ship 10 1918, and confined himself 10 his du-
ties as the representative of that renowned
uniyersity and it was about this time he he
gan 10 take prominent part in the proceed
ings of Parliament.
The death of Lord Castlereagh, by his own
hand, in 1893, restored Mr. Canning TO the
Ministry. Lord Liverpool was at lis head,
Mr. Canning Secretary ofthe Foreign and Mr.
Peel ofthe Home Department. This post he
held up 10 1897, when, upon re-construc-
ton of the Ministry, with Mr. Canningas pre-
mier, through disagreement with that cele-
brated statesman, Mr. Peel, with others re-
signed their places. Mr. CanniDg's brilliant
course having however been brought 10 "A
close by death, and the brief administration
of his successor, Lord Goderich, having had
its day,a new Cabinet was formed, with the
Duke ofWellington at its head, and Peel AZ
leader in the House of Commons.
Passing over several changes in the Cabi-
net and Parliament. we find Peel, in 1884,
travelling with his family in Italy, and taken
completely by surprise in receiving, by an ex-
press messenger from England, summons
to return TO his native land, and take charge
ofthe helm of government The Kings
messenger found the son of the cotton spin
ner i'm the studios of the Italian artistsdeep ia
the admiration and selection works so a.
bundaniiy found there. Mr. Peel instantly
returnd returned to England, and assumed "a
position he has held with some Interruptions
from that TO the present-PRIME MINISTER OF
ENGLAND; position enabling him who holds
it to WELD mighty power wherever the in-
fiuence of Englad is felt, and which as filled
by Peel, has conferred untading honor upon
himself, and resulted to the advantage of the
realm. r.,r... ..e l r.
1T will (says the article of which this is a
very hasty and briefcompilaton) I'VE think IL
will be conceded that no living statesman has
so largely impressed upon himself the policy
and character ofhis country, and measurnbly
upon the policy of of the world, as Sir Robert
Peel. He is the one man ofEngland.
He is now in position alike eminent and
critical. Posing himself upon resources
which never yet have failed him--ipon the
conviction of his own honest desire to serve
his country, and upon the popular favor-he
has to contend against the interests, the pref
udices and the resentnents off the great Con-
ser%atve mass with which he has heretoforp