The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-30

look round, Wellington stood for the
policy OF no surrender, though the logic
Of events soon compelled him TO beat a
strategic retreat from that uncompromis-
ing attitude. We have mentioned that
Lambton accepted q peerage, but We should
add that though Canning had offered IL.
IL was Goderich who conferred It. II was
on January IS, 1928, that Lambton was
gazetted q peer with the title Of Baron Dur
ham. The Duke Of Wellington W not
gazetted First Lord Of the Treasury until
January rs, a fact which refutes the insinua-
ton current at the time, that Durham
Lambton owed his seat in the House OF
Lords to the Duke Of Wellington, a states
man with whom he had nothing in common,
and TO whom he was always opposed.
1t is we'll known that as a statesman
Wellington out a o figure. Baron
Stockmar. who watched Wellington closely
during his administration, thought him
n OF the least adroit and most mischiev-
GUS Ministers that England ever possessed.
IL is certain that the outcome Of his meas
ures was that everything he did not intend
to effect was brought about. He was in
power from January %. 1928, until Noven-
Der, 1880. and in the interval two great
reform measures became law-the repeal
OF the Test and Corporation act and the
bill which brought about Catholic eman-
cipation. 1t was the Nonconformists who
won the former victory and il was Daniel
O'Connell's election for Clare which rem
dered the latter inevitable. 1t is we'll
known that O'Connell derived his title Of
-Liberator' because he was the first Roman
Catholic to force his way into the House Of
Commons since the reign of James IL.
George ". was succeeded by William
~. in June, 1880, and all through the sum-
mer the agitation for parliamentary re-
form grew in intensity and volume. In
the general election of that year the Minis
terislists were defeated almost every
where outside the pocket ~boroughs, but
there is no doubt that Wellington could
have retained Office for a while longer il he
had made some concessions to the moderate
reformers. This he would not do, n
before the middle Of November he was
beaten on a question concerning the civil
list and resigned. Lord Grey was called
upon to form a Government, and his SON.
in-law. Lord Durham, became Lord Privy
Seal in the new Cabinet. Canning's old
~lieutenants, Lord Palmerston, Lord Mel
DOuAhC III AOIu oOdch ACh. nv" bhAVW AA
their lot definitely with the Wings and were
made members of the Ministry. Durham,
more than any other member OF the Adj
ministration, in spite of his imperious man
ners and at times dictatorial bearing, was
the hope Of the Radicals, n his presence
in the Grey Government was regarded as
a pledge that no half measures would be
attempted on the coming issue of reform.
He was to justify the expectation by his
activities. Meanwhile, however,
he was to take a conspicuous part in the
settlement Of the Belgian question. 1t was
in pursuance of his suggestions that Eng
land cooperated with France in preventing
the Dutch from putting down the Belgian
uprising for independence. Belgium be-
came what Durham wished it 10 be, a bar
rier State. and in consequence of its neu-
trality, guaranteed by all the Powers,
it has never since been ~entangled in wars,
and is now the most densely populated
and not the least prosperous kingdom in
Europe.