The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-12-14
SOME NEW BOOKS.
The Croker Papers.


no documents have been published 80 rich in
material for tho political history OF England
during tho first half OF this century as The
Correspondence anil Diaries OF John Wilson
Croker, edited by LOUIS J. JENNINGS tScribnersl.
Indeed although Charles Greville had no doubt
ilrmer hold on fashionable as distinguished
from political society. and could. thereto
tell us more about tho social aspects OF tho
time no was far from enjoying the conf
dental relations sustained for many years
by Croker to the most eminent contem-
porary statesmen. and much that he re-
ports about official vicissItudes and pub-
lie nifairs came to him at second and third
hand. But in these full-stored volumes we
have tho private letters OF successive Premiers
of Perceval, Liverpool. Canning. Goderich.
Wellington. and Sir Robert pee!-written In tho
frankest spirit at momentous juncturcs to one
who himself held for twenty years high Office
under Government who was moro than once So
licited to become u Cabinet Minister. and with
out whose knowledge. advice. and active inter-
position no Tory Cabinet was formed But the
letters hero printed for tho first time are
scarcely tho most interesting. though. from
historical point OF view. they may
be tho most precious and authoritative
portion OF those papers for In Mr.. Croker's
diaries and random memoranda are treasured
notes of private conversations with George ~.
avd William w.. rs we'll rs with tho most dis
tinguishcd mon in official life. whose state
mcnts OF fact and expressions OF opinion
place many persons and events. about which
curiosity Is still unsatcd in now and ing
light II IL safe to say that II careful perusal Of
these documents will lead many OF MS to mod
ify the traditional verdict upon the character
and abilities of George w.. will scnsibly affect
our estimate Of Sir Robert Peel will siGnally
hcightcn our respect for the Duke OF Yelling
ton. and will powerfully help us to comprehend
tho crises provoked by tho three great move
ments OF Crokor's day. the agitation for the re-
newal OF Catholic disabilities. for the reform OF
Parliamentary representation. and for tho re-
penl OF tho Corn laws.
Mr. Matthew Arnold has alvertcd in one OF
his essays to tho capital importance of recog-
niHing the fact that in none Of the professcdiy
chief organs Of British critical opinion Is Tor
was) book surveyed and Judged froma purely
literary point Of view. With tho Quarterly or
tho EdjHbu5h the critics decision turned upon
tho Fundamental question whether tho writer
examined was n Tory or n Whis although the
lntter's political predictions might have nb-
solutely nothing to do with tho subject matter
or technical excellence OF the composition. No
man was at less pains than Croker himself
20 free his mind from political bias in the
exercise Of critical functions land none
has suffered moro cruelly from tho as
PERSONS of political enemies. Ho was ono OF
Macaulay's victims. and Il mark for the waspish
satire of Disraeli. We are probably justified
in saying that. in tho United States at all
events John Wilson Croker was solely known
to educated men before tho appearance Of
these voumes MS the lickspttle Rgsby
pilloricd in ConinEsby." and as the literary
fcatherhead whose elaborate edition Of Bos-
~, \ IT,
IL peculiarly savage and decisive way by tho
brilliant Wing essayist. Yet the facts arc as
Mr. jennings has made indisputable. that
Cookers relation to the Marquis OF Hartford
tthe Lord Monmouth OF Coningsby." the
Lord Steyne OF Vanity Fair" and the
Lord Seymour referred to in some of
Bazac's novels) reflected only credit on the
commoncr: that his political and social posi-
ton were incomparably higher than Macaulay
ever reached. so much higher even than Dis
raeIi attained to in Crokers lifetime, that the
two men had scarcely an acquaintance in
common; and finally that In tho teeth OF Ma
caulays contumely tho vilipended edition OF
Boswell although costly book, had an i'm
menso sale. and remains to this day an unap-
preached thcsaurus Of Johnsoninna No can
did person. We believe. can read this corre-
spondonce without feeling that tho character
and abilities OF Croker have been COM
pletely rehabitated by Mr.. jennings
and that by his interposition a figure,
not perhaps Of primary distinction. but
far from insignificant. has been restored to
his right place upon the stage OF affairs. But
tho tardy justice done to the memory OF Croker
is not the only service for which the reader has
to thank tho editor Of these volumes. Mr..
Jennings has practically given US history OF
English politics for the first half OF this century.
ltNlt f1,nt, 4, A.
OF such toll can divine the immense labor tho
thoroughly instructed judgment and the un-
renting vigilance called for in asserting coll
lating. winnowing and digesting huge mass
of unclassified and often undated materials
and in weaving everything new and valuable
into consecutive narrative. with only such m
unobtrusive thread OF pertinent and useful
comment rs should reproduce for the reader
tho precise point Of view from which letter
was indited or n conversation launched.
1t is impossible to give by quotations an adc-
Guate conception Of the substantial nforma-
ton. or the entertainment derivable from this
cspacious magazine Of historical and biocraph-
zeal data. for there are positively scores OF per-
sons or subjects commended to special notice
by the illumination poured on them. Perhaps
we Shall best indicate tho emnently attractive
character OF the narrative by glance mt the
recoilecttons and opinions Of the Duke OF Vol
lington recounted in familiar intercourse with
Mr.. Croker. and by some selections from the
table talk Of an era in which witty sayings we're
reserved for dinner parties rather than tho
press. The first OF these two volumes Ito which
for the present We conflne ourselves) covers
the period between 1907. when Mr.. Croker. ut
the age OF ~. entered Parliament. to the year
1882 made memorable by the reluctant pas
sage OF the first Reform act ;,and it will be OBJ
81 No..
member made so favorable an impression upon
the Tory leaders that when. in 1908. Sir Arthur
Wellesley. then Chief Secretary for Ireland.
was sent to Portugal. he requested Mr.. Croker
to take charge OF the Parliamentary business of
his office. The relations. which must even Mt that
time have been cordial were frightened rathor
than relaxed after tho Dukes return from his
victories in Spain and Belgium and Mr.. Croker
learned from the lips OF tho great English
soldier many unrecorded circumstances con-
nccted with his campaigns and his candid inn
pressions of tho French Generals opposed TO