The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-13


the Excheauer. He showed his good sense by
refusing the proposal and accepted instead
che War ofice, on condition that he should not
have a scat IN the Cabinet In letter written
1t the time he thus refers to the matter: "Of
course, ones vanity and ambition would lead
one TO accept the brilliant offer first proposed.
but II 10 throwing for great stake, and where
much IL to be gained very much also may be
lost. Ihave always thought It unfortunate for
any one. and particularly young man. to be
put above HE proper level. rs he only rises
to fall the lower. Now. am quite without
knowledge OF finance. and never but
once spoke in the House." The post which
he decided to take was quite different
from that now known a. Secretary for
War. There was then . Secretary for
War responsible for the policy In field opera
lions. but Palmerston's ONCE was that OF SEQ
rotary al War. whose function was to control
military expenditures and to supervise and
keep all tho needful accounts. 1t ts curious to
md him. in Q letter written In 1909. speaking
doubtfully OF Sir Arthur Wellesley. and opin-
ing that Spanish Affairs we're secondary con-
sideration. He took little part In general de-
bates. combining himself to his department,
and Il was characteristic OF him that he had .
passage at arms with Sir David Dundas. the
Commander-in- Chief. who tried to treat the
Secretary at War as subordinate. Against
both Dundas. and later on the Duke OF York.
Palmerston insisted upon the clear recog-
milton OF his authority and his right
Of direct personal access to the King
on all matters OF Importance. When after
the assassination OF Perceval Lord Liverpool
became Prime Minister. he retained Palmer
ston In the War ONCE. whore the latter labored
steadily to promote the efficiency Of the army.
After Napoleon had been overthrow
at Waterloo. Palmerston. In common with
many OF his oountrymen. enjoyed the lorg
pretermitted luxury Of a trip to Paris. His
letters from the French capital contain some
interesting information. Tho Duke Of We'll
lington told him that at Waterloo he had not
above 10000 to $4,000 British infantry: that
he started with the very worst army that was
ever brought together. but that four or i've
regiments which had been In the peninsula
entire force He said that the disei-
pline OF the Prussians was SO relaxed
that their numbers rapidly diminished during
the march. so that, although they left Belgium
with twice As many soldiers. he was rs strong
- they were when they reached Paris. Din
ing at Verey's with Bresson. who had been
chief OF the police under the French Emperor.
Palmerston heard some anecdotes 81 the Bona
parte family. He was told that Napoleon was
very much swayed and influenced by them.
and particularly by his sisters-clever and
ambitious women-who often made him
change determinations which he had formed
with apparent obstinscy. Bresson said the
brothers were most OF them weak and foolish.
and had all Of them the uncomfortable folly
to imagine that whom they were sent to be
sovereigns, Of States they were really meant
to DO independent kings. and that 1t was often
difflcnlt to convince them OF their mistake.
Tho Duke Of Wellington told Palmerston.
apropos OF the three kinds Of columns used in
tho war. that he had never had reason to
dread the great mass EN- ployed by the French.
consisting Of three lines ono behind the other.
each line containing three battalions in column
abreast OF each other. II defy the French"
said the Duke. Ito mention any one instance
in the whole war in which these masses have
made the slightest impression on our lines"
In 1920 George w.. who never liked Lord
Palmerston. succeeded to the throne. 1t
was apparently he who prevented Canning
and afterysrds Goodrich from appointing Pal
merston Chancellor OF the Exchequer. In a
note on this subject. Palmerston said: The
fact is that have the i'll luck from many
and various circumstances to have dis
lingly see me In any office which brought me
in contact with him. and would be glad to get
me civilly out Of the way. He said to Nine. de
Lieven in August. 1927: 'Connaissez vous
PalmerstonT 'Oui. je TAI connu bien depuis
longemps mails ce n est que derniarme emit que je
TAI connu bien. ct je vous assure que je
laime heaucout' Eth hien.' said he. IL
quelQue chose en- lui qui me deplait, II lair
tourjours 81 her." How anxious George ".
was to get rid OF Palmerston is clear from tho
fact that the Govsrnorship OF Jamaica was pro-
posed to him and that he was three times Of
fered the Governor Generalshp OF India. The
splendid Punishment was declined. and during
the years In which Canning and the Duke Of
Wellington were the chief political person
ages Palmerston's place remained the same.
VIZ. Secretary at War. In June. 1923. how
ever. no sided with Huskisson and their fellow
Canningites in their great quarrel with Well
linGton. and for tho first time in his pull bile life
found himself in opposition. 1t is an interest
ing fact that the attitude assumed by the Can
ningites toward Peel and the mass OF the
Tories was analogous to that taken twenty
years later by the Peelites toward the main
body OF the Conservatives. After Huskisson's
death Palmerston was invited by the Duke
OF Wellington to rejon his administra-
ton. but the negotiation failed. as Pal
merston said no must vote In Parlia-
ment for reform In the franchise. md
insisted that Lord Grey and Lord Lansdowne.
who held similar views. should also become
members OF tho Cabinet.
Towards the close OF 1880 the Dukes
Ministry wss overthrowu. and Lord Grey.
having been commissioned to form
Government. Palmsrston WAS enabled to
reach what had long been the goal OF his
smbition-the appointment Of Secretary OF
State for Foreign Afrdirs This was the only
post in which he displayed ability OF Il very
high order. and the subsequent record Of his
life is largely occupied with the policy which
he tnnugurated In 1881. and with tho results
flowing from It He voted. indeed. for the
great Reform bill carried by Lord Grey. butt
was upon England's relations to the great
diplomatic world that Palmerston Kept his
gaze fixed. His first achievement In his new
post was tho settlement OF tho Belgian ques-
ton. In which he wrested much larger con-
cessions from Tsleyrand than the latter de-
sired to make There was, it seems. doubt
whether the agreement could be got ready In