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* K 5 E P 0 tI ¥ I 0 AL lilPB OP SIR ROBERT PEEL . _ m Politico * Life of Sir Mabett Peel , far * . An . Anafy / ical Bwgrajphi ,. By Thomas " BSoubiedayr » athor of The Mmnoial History of Engird . 2 volg . ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ List all rpaders , before they take in hand the personal memoirs of Sir Robert P « el , announced by Mr . Murray , peruse the preparatory volumes of Mr . Pipuhleday . la these , the statesman ' s character and public acts are seriously analysed , in the spirit neither of a detractor nor of a panegyrist . Mr . Boubleday does not exaggerate his own impartiality when he avows that he is beyond the reach of political passion . His work is a grave , critical review , not free from theoretical bias , or from dogmatism , but altogether without harshnessviolenceor illiberality . Its principal fault results from the
men-, , tal habits of the writer , who has so far identified himself with questions of political economy , currency , and finance , that bis special subjects perpetually crop out , obscuring others of proportionate interest . There is no doubt that Sir Robert Peel ' s name is associated with great economical discussions ; but it was associated also with others , to some of which Mr . Doubleday does npt attribute their legitimate importance . Entering largely into the history of Catholic Emancipation , his narrative of the Reform Movement , like all other narratives that we have seen , is colourless and meagre . Even the Corn Law agitation suggests only a sketch and a summary , though , inasmuch as it concerned the political life of Sir Robert Peel , it is probably developed with all necessary amplitude and minuteness . We would by no means
manufacturers over apprentices and parish children . Sometimesthese wretched slaves of the loom were sent two or three hundred miles from their place of birth and separated for life from their parents . With a bankrupt ' s effects a " gang " of them was frequently put up fqr sale . In one instance , a Lancashire manufacturer agreed with a London parish to take one idiot with every twenty sound children . In another , a master , to punish the contumacy of a girl employed in his works stifled her in a heated oven . Certainly , here wer e grounds for parliamentary interference ; but Sir Robert Peel's views have never been , to this hour , practically and systematically developed . His son's advancement ., however , continued without interruption . In 1818 , he too k advantage of the Eldon and Liverpool influence , to be returned as member for Oxford , after which , with , equivocal gratitude , he deserted the administration .
The administration tottered , not because he had left it , for he left it because it tottered , and Mr . Peel , now " the Right Honourable , " was saluted by the independent members , and elected Chairman of the Second Bullion Committee , of which Mr . Ricardo was the master-spirit . At this point his financial policy assumed a distinct character , and here Mr . Doubleday diverges , not forgetting in his peroration to protest against the Cashpayments Act , attributable , he says , not to the late Sir Robert Peel , but to Mr . David Ricardo . Peel , now thirty-one years of age , was no longer the supplement of his father , who opposed him on the gold debate . The resolutions and the act were carried : but whether salutary or pernicious , thev
could have no immediate effect on a country suffering in its industry , in its trade , in its harvests ; and the Manchester massacre came as a commentary on the fallacies of legislation . Peel was the political volunteer who addressed to the House of Commons the apology of this illegal and ferocious act . He was never moved by liberal sympathies ; he was cold , always thought himself cautious , invariably adopted the winning cause . In the quarrel between George the Fourth and Queen Caroline he took no part , thereby offending both sides . He resisted the Catholic relief Bill until concession became a political necessity , and then took the lead of the party he had been opposing . When Canning , after a life of feverish political cupidity , became Premier , and induced the Duke of Clarence to become his Lord High Admiral , as Lord Eldon induced the Duke of York to become his spokesman in the Peers . Hansard
says : — " The Houae was crowded to excess ; and suck of the mem'bers as could not find accommodation below , resorted to the galleries . To these were added several peers and reverend prelates , whose curiosity had induced them to be present at this opening act of the new administration . Tie Bishops of Bath and Wells and of Lichfield and Coventry sat in the right hand gallery , and near them the Duke of Norfolk , the Earl Fitzwilliam , and Lord Sea-ford , whilst in tlie opposite gallery were observed the Marquisses Aylesbury and Sligo , the Earls C-owper , Hardwicke , Darnley , Caernarvon and Roden , and Lords Bexley , Farnham , and Ravensworth . About five o ' clock Mis Canning entered , and took the peat which he usually occupied . Immediately behind him sat Six Francis Burdett and Mr . Tierney . Mr . Brougham walked up the ministerial side , and took his Seat on the third of that side . Near him sat Mr . Calcraft , Sir John Newport , and Lord Stanley and llobera Wilson , and Mr . Spring Rice . Mr . Hothouse retained his seat on the „„„—j ... .-jj .:. . -i . i . . -i •»«• . xt . _ ; ., _ j c ; - J . 1-.. 2 .-U . i ,. ¦"
ocuuuu . wppoaionm oencn , ana iir . nuui « . ^ . u . a UJLLJLt . , * » ^ mis generany occupied , Mr . Peel and Mx . Goulbourii took up their stations on the second row of seats between the treasury bench and the bar . " It was the objeet of Sir Francis Burdett and the Whi gs to break up the Tory phalanx , of Peel to damage Canning and get his pi ace , of Canning to compel the support of the Tories , by taking- up violenty all the principles of the Tory programme . As there have been one or two questions asked me , I trust the House will extend its indulgence to me whilst I briefly answer them . I am asked what I mean to do on the subject of Parliamentary Reform ? Why , I nay to oppose it to the end of my life in this House , under whatever shape it may appear ( Cheers . ) I am asked what I intend to do as to the Test Act ? I say to oppose it . ( Clieers . ) Mr- Doubleday says that Mr . Canning ' s whole character partook of the selfish and the superficial . He does not say the same of Sir Robert Peel , because Peel , though he never became the champion of a half-deserted cause .
always gave way to an irresistible public opinion on public grounds , without reckoning the supporters he should lose , or the strength lie should give his adversaries . It was not his practice to revile tho advocates of Emancipation or Reform as Jacobites or Jacobins , as " Papistical crew , " or as " a revolutionary gang . " The . se terras were left to peers and sons of peers . It was only when be had to deal with an Irishman or Cobbett that he became furious , insolent , and unmannerly . As his experience increased , he learnud to modify his method of advocacy and of opposition , conscious , perhaps , that he might have to change sides , anil expose himself to those charges of inconsistency which he once levelled so bitterly at Wellesley Pole . At one time , alnrmeil by a proposal to admit the Jews to Parliament , lie afterwards taunted the bigots who " would visit the sinaof tlie fathers on the children . " The question of Reform once settled , he refused to disturb it . Emancipation once granted , lie never listened to any reactionary schemes . From first to last Jie was a watchful , rather than a reflective statesman ; it was at no time his fortune to make the dispositions of a political battle . He often led the victory ; but he never bore the heat and burden of the conflict .
This analytical biography is a work of great merit , conscientiously prepared , p lain , clear , an < l practically interesting . It is not Mr . Doubledny ' s most original production ; but it is the one that exhibits , most prominently . «' peculiar talents , which arc those of n thoughtful , reasoning , dispassionate narrator , qualified by largo investigations to deal with the variations of n statesman ' s policy .
undervalue Mr . Doubleday s work because it is not a history of the half century represented by Sir Robert Peel ^ s career . The exigences of his plan , —and his plan depended on his limits—forced him to introduce only in a passing way the names of other statesmen who also rose at the same period and acted in the same scene . His portraiture is strictly of Sir Robert Peel , not of the group of statesmen among whom Peel held a foremost place , though , as they all operated more or less on the political events of the epoch , their characters and opinions are touched from time to time , and in some instances , with extraordinary sharpness and decision . But Mr . Doubleday never writes for effect . His style is invariably cold , lucid , logical , as the style of a political biographer should be , . Thei book , therefore , may be recommended as an admirable study for our younger race of politicians . Sir Robert Peel is often quotedjby foreigners as an example of the democratic
tendencies of the English nation . They see this son of a cotton-spinner sent for from Florence . to be made Prime Minister of England , and the nioral deduced is , that any man possessed of distinguished abilities may rise from whatever station to political rank and power . But the Peels were a fortunate family , sad , without disparaging the talents of the man who made the Duke of Wellington his official subordinate , it is- neeessary to take into the account tlie prodigious facilities of his position . His father had been made a baronet by Pit ; t , had been among the first to take advantage of the invention of machinery f 0 r cotton-manufactures , had acquired enormous influence in his county , sat in Parliament , and when his son , after an Eton and Oxford training-, was twenty-one years of age , sent him into the House of Commons unpledged , uncompromised , to finish his education . There he took his place , 2 * eir to a baronetage and nearly a million of money , listening to orations on . iwyinnmv W fTorr , ^ Hnskisson , axwj . BrOJjerbam witVPa » WTOl . ^ r »~ -.:.: ¦ rj-ir ^ r-j ~ j -r--- —— , ---. ,. . .. / .. . ¦ .. _ .. .. , , - .. »« -. v , » v-o * c * t its rreraier , tne'Tories-in tne ascendant , Canning labouring with ambition , ' Sheridan still filtering on the opposition , benches , Tierney voluble , and audacious , Romillv vtfho never debatpd , but advised , and Burdett concentrating in himself the op inions of Home Tooke and William Cobbett . The elder Peel being a 5 £ * y » the younger Peel , of course , was a Tory also , with the gloss of Oxford in . addition . His father , who understood better how to develope the feeulties of children in cotton-mills , than to guide a young man to political distinction , made some injudicious displays of confidence in the talents of his son , and the talents of his son were naturally- suspected . At the same time a showy young lord , intituled Palmerston , entered * the House , with friendly prophesies of fame about him . and Mr . Peel began his career , doubted , but not unnoticed . Observe the rapidity of his successes ; how be found a position made fo *
liim by his father . He entered Parliament , in 1809 ; in the session of 1810 he ¦ was marked as a rising new member on the ministerial side , by having to second the address to the Throne . Fortunately , the mover not only spoke badly , but broke down , so that the seeonde / s elegant fluency secured the cheers of the House . He was not so happy when he next , of his own impulse , ventured into a political discussion . He undertook to defend the Walcheren expedition . But , in 1811 , Mr . Perceval gave him the post of Undersecretary for the Colonies , which , at that time , could be filled by any man of sound practical sense , for Great Britain was the only colonial power : her dependences were consented , peaceable , and had been safe from the visitations otJUe greAt European war ever since Nelson had swept tho last French fleet uie
on seasa ? irajaigar . Une cause ot tlie particular influence of the Peel tam , » y was to : —that they represented the manufacturing interest which never till then had competed with that of the land . Mr . Perceval , anxious to conciliate this now political power , availed himself of every opportunity to attach the elder Peel to hia party , by prompting the younger . But his career drew to a close : Belhngham ' s pistol-shot in the lobby of the House of Commons struck down the minister and dissolved tho ministry . Tho new a # pini 9 trat » Qji under Lord Liverpool did not foi ' get the young debater as conspicuous for lua serious judgment as for family influence . Ho was app ointed , in his twenty-fourth year , Chief Secretary for Irehvnd , then distracted bytjie collision of the Catholic
national interest with the petty Protestant JTOW y- ^« o Irish punsters , of course , did not omit to call him Orange S ™ rl n certainly as stubborn a ^ . d Ibigottod as Lqrd Liverpool could tE !! i 4 . * ° * , l was mtlie ftrena , with ruthless , almost brutal oratory , and ?« 2 « 5 i *? * /' yl 6 ofponderous ridiculcwith which he afterwards tried * ° fiPmound the irrefutable Cobbott . uoSJw !? nf ^ > " »» n « tely the circumstances which led tp the irn - KSedoLo ^ 7 ° 7 ° f 1855 ' ^ 8 sca that Mr . Pool ' s Irish policy vraa le £ aStoZL ? mptQmS i . " »¦ " •*»*» forcibly the ignorance of tlie taffiof SIS ^ $ V ? ' f ?^ tho « tlMW econo mists , was tl » e liini-2 vo 3 £ Scil adT ^ t ^ Chil < lrcn - Ur ' » ° * l >\ od , xy cordially approves pwncipto , addin fojtaH , in proof of tho tyranny exercised by tho
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A POLITICAL STUDENT . The Europium Rvvolutionn of 1848 . 13 y E . S . Cuyloy . 2 Vols . Smith uml ICIclor . Mr . Caylby ' b volumes consist of a loose compilation from a fmv historical fragments , pamphlets , and periodicals . He has ho little conHiluiirc in his authorities that lie never cites them . Therefore , for purpose of rdoronco , the book b worthless . Aa a summary it is confused , disjointed , ao aeldom accurate , and so invariably partial , tliat it muat bo tnkon ' only aa n I . Ixjihc by a raw student , wl » o is » t once ignorant of historical method and destitute of historical faculty . A general n-ovicw of tho events of 1848 might , in many
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330 THE igADER [ No . 315 , Saturday ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 5, 1856, page 330, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2135/page/18/
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