New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-12


but a series of monographs on the present Queens
Prime Ministers necessarily involved a fresh BIZ
oqraphy of this statesman, and 1t happens that
tie writer to which the work vas assigned has
taken a view of lis subject which differs in many
resnects from thy.e set forth III the lengthcr
lives W,lc il cannot he said that DR.. Duncklcy
has assumed an uni:icndiy attitude TO Lord Mel
bourne il is clear that he has felt under no Obll-
CATION palliatc his faults eXaggcratc his mer-
it's and the general result is biography which
probably presents closer approximation TO the
truth and more judicial estimate of character
than the larger wor,,s referred TO offer. Lord
Melbourne was in no sense great, and his name
is associated with no very important measures Us
an originator. lie was. however, stronger than he
commonly appeared, q vriic temperament bong
in his case masked by haht of Incidence which
frequently assumed 10 be his normal con-
dition lie had very bad rearing in the first ten
wears OF his life, his mother being woman of
the world and Of fashion, vino was completely ab-
sorbcd I'm amusement, and his fathers affections
being fixed upon Mclbourac's elder brother who
was then the heir Of the house William Lamb.
as he was during fifty years of his life was edu-
Gated after the manner Of the time at EtOn and
Cambridge, and learned some Latin, acquiring
n taste for reading which We retained through
lie.
lie was never fond OF field sports athletics or
any of the vigorous physical exercises to which
young England was then. as now addicted lie
devourcd boobs of all kinds. but he did not seem
to assmilatc much On entering the House Of
Commons a very Young man, he developed n
mild oratorical talent. II was Just enough TO
secure him a hearing when he spoke. but not
enough 70 Justify any particularly bright hopes
for his future. He spoke sometimes, and what
he said was apt TO be sensible, in commonplace
way. After seven years session in the House he
lost his seat and retired for time with the con-
sciousness that he had been long way from
setting the Thames on fire Out of the House he
had provided a somewhat cngrOssng and exciting
occupation for himself by contracting marriage
with one of the fiehtiest and most erratic women
in Europe Or. Duncklcy S estimate of Lady Car
olne Lamb does not strike us altogether candid.
He does not speak Of her foibles in the tone with
which lie comments upon her husbands failings. !
He affects confidence in her fundamental sound |
Dess and goodness which it is very certain was
entertained by few, if any, of her contemporaries
The period one of moral laXity. The exam !
pies Of the King and the Prince Regent were de- !
mcralizng. Dr.. Duncllley is surprised AZ the |
apathy OF Melbourne when lis wife was flirting !
with every new celebrity, and even when she was
making no secret Of her grand passion" for !
Byron. But it must be remembered that Mel !
bournc's early youth had been passed in the pc
cuiar attn osphcre Of Carlton House. and that COM
plaiSance or Indifference were among the dcvc- |
o2mcHts to he expected from such n training. |
man with such an up-bringing. and such expert. !
enccs wonld not be likely to exhibit special rigid
Ivy Of morals. even had he not been as naturally !
phlermatic was Melbourne
Nevertheless, the relations between Lady Caro-. !
lire and Byron wojG have probably exploded in q
scandal but for the convenient hypothcss-sup- /
ported ~ hcr notorious defiance of all conventions
that tie lad; was at least partially mad. Dr. |
hunck,cy refuses to accept this theory, vet lie
equally rejects tie only possible rational alterna-
tive, which that she bad. The most
charitable view is unquestonaby that which
ascrhcs her conduct to mental alienation, and it
may al lea = he asserted that il would have bfan
easy 70 collect evidence of her insanity sufficient
80 have consigned Of common people 10 an
asylum. Melbourne however, loved and contln-
ucd u love her. Probably is the rule in such
eases. he never knew 1.-THE Of what said
e her. Gut he knew much, and he showed both
TENDERNESS and wonderful patience. Lady Caro-
line could lie fascinating when she chose, ana
having driven her husband to the desperate re.
course # separation. She caiolcd and wheedcd
nina into rcHpuncng this stern purpose, in the
short space If half an hogr. But her promises
Of amendment not kept, and poor Melbourne
WAS after al obliged 10 rccur 90 his original
purpose Cu:iously enough, she never resented
lis action. They remained warm friends and
constant correspondents, ahd when tho wiful wife
cane 10 die the news Of her condition brought
The long-scparstcd husband - her bedside. where
he stayed TO the end, exhibiting deep grief for
his loss 1t is quite possible that the judgment
passed upon Lady Caroline by her peers was
more or less affected by the issue between George
the Fourth and his wife. The whole people Of
England took sides IN that quarrel, and when
Queen Caroline came back TO England in open de-
fiance of her lord and master public opinion de-
clarcd itself Enthusiastically on her side. II was a
scandalOus issue, and whoever to-day wastes time
in searching the rights Of it is likely 10 reach
tho conclusion that there is little room for choice
between the royal couple, the characters of both
being thoroughly vile.
Melbourne did not permit his domestic troubles
TO interfere with politics, however. Not that he
ever was an eager politician. His principles were
always hay and mutable, and his views COM
monty cynical. He started out follower of
FOX. After the death of that statesman he
affiliated for a time with the Wings; then joined
a small schism in the party, then worked with
some dissentient Tories then took office under
a Tory administration; presently went back 10
the Wings: and fluctuated backward and for
ward for many years often called a renegade and
turncOat but never accused suspected Of chang
ing sides for selfish motives. The truth appears
TO have been that lie did not believe
in tie integrity Of any party and there
fore was lightly bound by partisan al
legiance. lie appeared TO most advantage
in connection with Irish questions for he was
liberal and tolerant beyond most of his con-
temporarics and nc favored the removal of Cath
ole disabilities at time when all politicians, sub
hitting themselves TO the stubborn preudces Of the
Crown, refused to take the question up seriously.
As Chief Secretary for Ireland lie made little mark,
finding himself tied hand and foot by fatuous
precedent and the complicated intrigue of the
Caste faction. But he made himself liked per-
sonally by all who met him. and if he could have
had his own way he would have probably done
ri nj