Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-24
sketches Of English statesmen.


M 81 n
Sketches of English statesmen.
MR.. BENJAMIN DIsRAELI.
This gentleman is the son Of the author Of uThe
Curioses of Literature and is himself an author
OF considerable reputation. lie commenced his lit
erary career at very early age, and produced the
novel so well known by the name of Vivian Grey
The moment Il appeared II "made a hit Y the
prettiness Of the style, and the fact that it was
written by one who was comparatively boy, en-
listed ladyreaders in its favor; and the success Of
| the book was complete. Other novels followed,
and these were equally well received. aContarini
Fleming" especially, became favorite; and d few
years ago Henrietta Temple" wns regarded as Il
masterpiece of that prettness OF style in which
Benjamin Disraeli SO much excels. His enemies
exclaim .Twaddel mere twaddlel" We are not
| of this adverse opinion. Although Disraeli's he.
roes and heroines are somewhat maudlin and sick
y In their loves yet their characters are delineated
with SO much care, and their sentiments, feelings
| and passions shadowed forth with such deicacy of
touch, occasionally marked with dash Of bold,
fine coloring, that we must admit him to bc the
possessor Of greattalent, fnot Of actual genius he
sthepower to charm and fscinate; and that Quail
ity Is everything In a novelist. Within the last
four years he has taken bolder flight in his novels
which he has made social and political Soon
tingsby" electrified the reading world and while
the richer classes deyoured its pages, the poorer
greediy snatched at the fragments which news
paper reviews and cheap periodicals placed within
their reach. The work was written expressly to
develop the doctrines and princpeso Of the sY oung
England" party-a party which sabsets on the
most extraordinary Inconsistencies --professng the
most antagonistic and irreconcilable principles
| upholdng the aristocracy and sympathizing with
the denocracy--going almost as far as to assert
the divine right Of kings, and patronising dances
and meetings to which all classes are admitted
unfurling tae standard in the cause ofthe heredi-
tary peerage," and bewailmg the oppressed and
neglected condition Of the people! After eco.
ningsby'' came "Sybil," beautiful work in which
we find Mr.. Disraeli's most charming creation OF
heroine y
Mr.. Disraell Is the reputed author Of The Gal
lomania,' :" The Letters sf Runnymede,n and
The Spirit Of Whigism.s That he wrote the first
and the last, IL pretty certain; but that he alone
pcnned the Letters" no one who Ia at all nc.
quanted with the nature Of his mind can for an
instant believe. lie has not the solidity nor the
powers OF reasoning which are manifested in those
disquistions.
Let US now survey Mr. Disraeli in his character
Of politician. And first let us observe that
0Connell ought to be the most cautious OF man
kind. He has been fawned upon IN succession,
| by nearly every man who wanted TO make himself
of some value before he set himself up TO auction.
| Disraeli tried this scheme but he bungled IT,
0'Connell found him out-insisted upon his letting
20 his hold OF bis tail limited to him that he was
near family connexion Of the impenitent thiefs
and kicked him out Of the way as he stood In his
path talking some windy verbiage, In which "un-
extinguishsble hatred was the only understands
BILE expression. sa
A friend Of ours tells q story In his cups how be
4 L.. az xxaa al .rta ka.. A.
squirting dirty water out Of pewter syringe, and
how, having, early one morning, squirtcd over the
powdered wig Of q most respectable looking old
| gentleman then perambuating the park, be got q
very sound cudgeling from the gold-headed cane
which the old gentleman bore. Disraeli was as
proud OF his castgation by 0'ConneIl as our friend
was Of the cudgeling he got from George III. (for
thus the story always ends, and he had reason. II
enabled Disraeli 10 puff himself into something like
notice--to vapour and buster--and call out Nor.
gan 0Connell (who would fight the evil one him
self II be asked him as particular fayor) and run
about town TO get pistols--and--to get bound over
TO keep tho peace Thus ended tho only gunpow-
der fit with which the wondrous boy was ever
visited How the binding-over came about we do
not know but Mr.. Disraelfs friends say that II
was Dams Ioing, when he got an inklng Of the
affair.
Mr. Disraeli had found by this time that he was
fool TO have anything to do with the Radicals
especially as they would have nothing more to do
with him. Impndence IL perfect drug in tha.
Market said Ben and impudence was his only
wares Lord Lyndhurst at that time cast his eyes
on Disracl, and thought he would make good
Tory tool Benjamin was pleased at the slight
overtures which he received from his lordship
and Lord Wyndhnrst was therefore now the man
for Mr. Disraeli.
The Ex-Cbancelor accordingly patronized Mr.
DisraeIi-- introduced him TO divers great people
| and procured for him an engagement upon the
Times Disraeli was to write a leader every alter
| nate day |: and as the "Runnymede Letters ap-
pcared about the same time IN that journal, public
rumor has sscribed them TO Mr.. Disraeli. But the
leaders and the letters in style 80 different,
that while the latter " took amazingly, the for
mcr were speedily ordered TO be discontinued.
This was said blow TO Mr.. Disraeli for the mo-
| IIis marriage with Mrs. Wyndham Lewis widow Of
| the late Member for Maidstone) in 1882 placed
Mr. Disraeli at pecuniary ease.
| IL was, however, in 1897 that he was returned
| for Maidstone; and his Tory friends entertained
the highest hopes Of him. He had been supported
in his election by Lord Lyndhurst and the Carlton
Club /; and gold had been profnsely dispensed 70
secure his return. Disraeli now threatened to de-
mollsh Mr. 0'Connell, and uninitiated people be-
gan 10 pity tue great niDcInlan isDtfabfs bhhth-
ing how the colossal Goliah fell by the sling Of the
| little jew.
The memorable night arrived, the Commons
were assembled, and much strife OF words had al
| ready arisen, when Mr.. Disraeli stood forth.
Hushed was every breath, rooted 70 the ground
was every foot the speaker pocketed his snuff.
box, the clerks left off mending their pens, the
strangers in the gallery stretched forth their necks,
the parliamentary reporters alone smiled signih-
cantly together Then did Disraeli open his
mouth but--astouishing O'Conncl did not trem-
blei Loud and rapid were the reports, terrible
was the battle Of sonorous phrases which rushed
forth tumultuously, filing the mighty building with
the tremendous din. The spectators, after the 6rs
moment Of surprise, began TO look out for the ef
fects Of these shots and for the vacant place Of the
Iiberator. 10 there SAT 0'Connel, as scathlese
and as cozy as he ever sat II his own chair at Der
ryname. The truth ont II was mountebank
1 trick after all-Dsraeli firing blank caftrdges
offending mems ears with horrd sounds, and doing
no mischief at all. What was more extraordinary,
the poor orator could not be convinced Of the fact
he fully believed he was banging away grape and
notr;atar ho oot into N trernan andOus ftuy-ferce.