Year: 1870

a, h.c,,,o IN, ,nre,uah he and find IN the bulletins
tbnt the pr,ssans failed in several attacks which
they made upon il. But such was the treachery OF
some Of the officers and the cowardice OF most Oh
the men that at whatever time the battle had been
tonight its fate would probably have been the same


The tone of parliamentary debate, at the time OF
ord paImcrston's return as a member of the House
~ Commons. was more practical and business-like
,bou II ia at the present day. According to Sir H. Bul


,,or tbere was less talk and more action. The re-
pors of the discussions in the morning journals did
not exhibit such a weary waste of Improbable
vords There was not such wilderness of common
nloce remarks by commonplace men, retarding rather
than advancing the dispatch Of business. The ord-
narv r,utine of Government affairs, which has to be


eone tbroupb with az matter Of course, did not call
ont n dull speech from every member. Every i'm
nortant oueston was debated chiefly by the leading
membcr II took long time for new man TO gain
the ear of the House III he was prompted by am
btion TO make trial of his strength, he found
critical audience. He had to pass through a severe
ordeal before he pronounced fit to be one Of the
select few that were deemed worth listening to. The
novice who succeeded with tolerabe credit was con-
sidered to have won his spurs, and almost GER
tain if he remained in Parliament, TO obtain place
and distinction. Lord Palmerstons maiden speech in
the House was on the Danish expedition which was
the great subject of debate at the beginning of the
Session in 1908 His effort was well received and
many compliments were paid to him on its success.
He notes in his autobiography: Robert Mines


father of the present Lord Houghtonl better known
as Orator Milnes had made splendid speech on the
first night of the discussion. He chose TO make
second speech on a following night, to show that
he was as good in reply on preparation. His speech
was bad one and my first speech was thought bet
Al, n,1N In Lott to SiG ms
after the delivery of the speech he thus modestlya
ludes to his performance: "You will see by this
DAYS paper that was tempted by some evil spirit
to make fool of myself for the entertainment of the
House last night; however. l thought il a good
opportunity of breaking the ice although one should
founder little in doing So as il was impossible to
talk any very egregiOus nonsense upon so good a
canse. Icertainly felt very glad when the thngwas
over though began to fear l had exposed myself,
but my friends were SO obgng rs to say had not
talked much nonsense, and l began in a few hours
to be reconciled to my fate. was about
half an hour on my legs: did not feel so much
alarmed as expected to be-" The speech, Sir Ii.
Bulwer informs u.s. was composed with great care
The parts which were committed 10 memory were
spoken with and tuency. In the other parts he
now and then hesitated. and used too much gesture
which to the last, he was apt TO do when he spoke
and was seeking for words
Though he always used the right word, IT
often cost him pains TO find it. This no doubt
took of from the good effect of his speech, but still


he was at once recognized as young man OF promise
who would hereafter make his mark on the House.


At the age Of twenty-five new era took place In
ord Palmerston's life He had not yet made sec
ond speech in Parliament, when he received an offer
which might have turned even a steadier head than
TLan bpt agtlprplnh
Mr. Canning led to a change of ministry, though not
to the defeat of the party in power Upon the acces-
sion of Mr. Perceval TO the first office III the Cabinet
be found it difficult to fill the important places with
men Of established reputation, and was obliged to
have recourse to the young men who had gwen
promise of ability. Prominent among these was
Lord Palmerston, and TO him was offered the Chan-
ceorship of the Exchequer But he regarded the po-
sion as too difficult and hazardous for man with 80
little experience of public life, and accepted instead
the Office Of Secretary at War His discharge of the
duties of this post which lie held under five differ
ent administrations from 1909 to 1923, was prompt
and energetic and in 1880 he appointed Secretary
for Foreign Affairs under the Ministry of Earl Grey


The policy of Europe at this moment was entering
upon a new phase of its development. The revolu-


ton which prostrated the Bourbon throne i'll France


was the signal for popular reaction against arbi-


trary sOvereigns Crowns everywhere falling


into the gutter The course of the Foreign Office ut


this critical uncture is described at length by Sir H.


Bulwer. His narrative though heavy and somewhat
obscure is relieved by copiOus extracts from Lord


Palmersons letters but rs we have already exceeded
our allotted space must refer or readers for fur


Iiner GeIaiiis 10 the biography itself


The character of Lord PalmeTstOn, according to Sir
H. Bulwer was sDgulary fitted fOr successful states
manship. His disinclination TO extreme measures
grew ont of certain happy facility OF temperament.


His nature freely opened itself to all classes of men.
He had a vivid sense of the manifold aspects Of life.
which preserved him from Onesidedness and bieotry


His sylnpatlies extended over wide range OF feel-


ing and experience, and he had not trace OF the
eccentricity and subtle refinement which are pro
duced by living in solitude or limited society. In
the progress of the age he kept i'll the middle ranks


not eager for rapid advance but lefore the soth-
ful and timid. Neither in the past nor the future
did he find the perfection of wisdom he did not


take sides with the innexible adherent TO tradi-
ton, nor with the credulous enthusiast for re-
form "but he preferred the hopes of the generation
that was coming Oh to the despair Of the generation
that was passing away" There nothing violent
or abrupt in his political life. His career was con-
sistent from its commencement to its close, not


hecting the decided opinion of any exclusive class


but the average sense of the English nation. With
out the possession Of any profound or brilliant in
telectua gifts, which Sir II. Bulwer does not claim
for him, he had a remarkable talent for details, and
a mastery power for the dispatch of business. He
showed himself equal to every situation in which he
was placed his ambition was content with gradual
preferment and with an uncommon freedom from
vanity OF preenson he at last found his foot on the
top of the ladder which hc early began to mount
Though not entirely English in blood, his breeding


his education his tastes, his habits were thoroughly
English, and, with perhaps not more than the usual
spice of original sin. he may he set down gen