Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

taking in domestic politics. Towards the end of the month, the rapid progress of Napoleon after his victory at Jena filled Lord John with alarm.

How long Bonaparte will domineer over the world, and how long we can make head against him, God only knows, but the rapidity of his conquests is unexampled.

Saturday, November 29.—We set off from Woodnesboro' in the evening to dine with General Ludlow on our way to town. slept there.

We

General Ludlow is general of the district. Sunday, November 30.—We got to London at 4. 15 in 8 hours. Reddish's Hotel,

The next day Lord John went to see Kemble in 'Coriolanus,' 'not a good part for Mrs. Siddons;' and on the two following evenings he was again at the theatre, on the last occasion 'to see "The Cabinet "—all singing, which I hate— and "Tekeli,” a new melodrama, some parts very interesting; scenery very good.'

On the Saturday he was again at the playhouse to see 'John Bull,' 'not acted near so well as at Woburn;' and in the intermediate days he met Lord Howick at General Fitzpatrick's, and Charles Fox, Lord Holland's son, Lord H. Petty, Tierney, Lewis (presumably Matthew or Monk' Lewis), Sidney [sic] Smith, and some others at Holland House. 'Sidney Smith very amusing. Charles Fox a very clever boy about ten years old.'

Eight days were thus spent by this boy of fourteen in the company of Ministers and wits, or criticising some of the first actors of the day. On Monday, December 8, his brothers and he left town for Woburn, and on the following Sunday

We left Woburn about eight o'clock on Sunday morning, and got to Wolverhampton that night, to Oswestry on Monday, to Capel Curig on Tuesday, and Holyhead on Wednesday, where we got a packet to ourselves, and set sail at five. We landed at a miserable town called Balbriggan at four the next day, the wind having blown so hard in the night that the packet could not reach Dublin till Friday. My father (as we had sent an express to him) ordered a barouche to be brought for us, which

took us to Phoenix Park in 2 hours on Friday, December 19. All well at the Phoenix.

Wednesday, December 31.-Concluded the year 1806. I passed the year very happily, and had it not been for the length of the journeys, I should have liked going to Ireland very much, but it is not so pleasant as Woburn. Tavistock went no more to Woodnesboro', and set off for Cambridge a few days before I went to Woodnesboro'.

Lord John stayed in Dublin till the end of January, he and his elder brother being evidently on the most intimate terms with Lord Harrington's 1 family, one of whose daughters (Lady Anna Maria Stanhope) was to become Lady Tavistock. On the 6th the Harringtons gave a great fancy Twelfth-Night ball at the Royal Hospital, when the future Prime Minister appeared in the character of 'an old woman,' and on the 19th they followed up the ball with some private theatricals, in which I spoke the Prologue, my own.'

The gaieties of a gay Dublin winter were not over. In the following week Lord John was at three balls, and on the Saturday he left Ireland.

We got on board the packet at six in the evening, but did not leave Dublin Bay till four on Sunday morning. We got to Holyhead in ten hours, and to Gwinder [? Gwydr] at night, Corwen the next, and Weston [Lord Bradford's] the next, where we stayed till Thursday, when we came to Woburn in a day with George Bridgeman.2 .. Bridgeman and I came up to town with Mr. Adam on Sunday, February 8, and I went to Lord Bath's, where I stayed till Sunday, 15th, when I arrived at Woodnesboro' by mail and found Lord Hartington there.

1 Lord Harrington commanded the forces in Ireland in 1807.

2 Lord Bradford's eldest son. He was three years older than Lord J. Russell.

3 Lord John's uncle by marriage. Lady Bath was the Lady Weymouth to whom Lord John's mother wrote in 1796. See ante, p. 3.

CHAPTER II.

EDUCATION.

IN relating the story of Lord John Russell's life from 1792 to 1807, it has been possible to lean almost exclusively on his own diaries and on his own memoranda. They give a picture of a delicate and sensitive boy entering with zest and courage into pursuits for which his strength is hardly equal; backward in his studies but precocious in his knowledge; thrown, by his birth and connections, into occasional intercourse with the first men of the day; interested in politics, fascinated by the stage; and, in all that he did and all that he wrote, displaying honesty and truth.

His return to Woodnesboro' in 1807 may perhaps be conveniently taken as the commencement of a new era in his career. At this time he ceased to make the minute daily records of his life which have hitherto made it possible to follow the story, substituting for them a narrative written at intervals. At this time, moreover, the measures were in progress which led in the following month to the fall of the Talents Administration, the consequent retirement of the Duke of Bedford from the Irish Viceroyalty, and the formation of the Tory Ministry which, under the Duke of Portland, Mr. Perceval, and Lord Liverpool, was destined to govern England for twenty years.

These events would, in any circumstances, have given Lord John an increased interest in politics. Boys in their teens take keen interest in their fathers' political fortunes. But the causes which drove the Talents Administration from office must have increased this feeling. For the fall of the Ministry was due to a despatch of the Duke of Bedford which embodied

the hereditary policy of the Russells the admission of Roman Catholics into the army, and the employment of Roman Catholic gentlemen as sheriffs.1

It is difficult now to believe that a moderate and reasonable proposal of this character should have split up the Cabinet, alarmed the Crown, and frightened the people. Yet these results immediately followed its introduction. The Tory

Ministry, succeeding to office, was almost compelled to dissolve Parliament, and the general election, fought in such circumstances, naturally provoked the strong Protestant feeling which is perhaps even still a dominant though latent influence in English politics.

How great an interest Lord John was taking in these matters will be seen from the following extract from his journal:

In most of the elections the Opposition was beat. A senseless and unfounded cry of 'No Popery' had prevailed on many zealous electors to reject staunch and tried men for hirelings whom Government had sent down. Lord William Russell [his uncle] lost his election for Surrey, being surprised by the opposition of Mr. Sumner, as many of the Whigs did not exert themselves till the poll was almost over. However, Pym and General Fitzpatrick beat Mr. Osborne from Bedford county.2 Lord Howick gave up Northumberland. At Cambridge University

1 The measure was a consequence of the Union. In Ireland, by an Act of 1793, Roman Catholics were allowed to hold-in England they were not allowed to hold-commissions in the army and militia. The Whigs contended that a Roman Catholic who held a commission in an Irish militia regiment was liable to a penalty if his regiment was transferred to England. The Tories declared that the Mutiny Act, by compelling him to perform the duty, virtually protected him in its performance.

2 In the midst of this election Dr. Cartwright wrote to Lord John-'Had you been this last week in Bedfordshire, you might have been of great use in firing off election squibs and crackers. The writers on both sides were very dull, and on Osborne's very scurrilous. Had I thought of it before, I would have prevailed upon you to have sent us a few epigrams at least. It will now be too late, for before they can arrive the election will be over. It is now a matter of great uncertainty which will be the successful candidate, the General or Osborne, who by last night's poll was only nineteen behind; and I know he will to-day poll no fewer than seventeen divines, staunch supporters of Church and King.'

poor Lord Henry Petty was completely beat. Lord Palmerston, the Ministerial candidate, brought down Sir Vicary Gibbs to receive his second votes; but Lord Henry Petty's friends, despairing of his Lordship's success, placed Lord Euston at the head of the poll, and Sir V. Gibbs turned out Lord Palmerston. The University totally disgraced themselves by choosing Lord Henry Petty when in office and deserting him when out. Mr. Roscoe was hooted at Liverpool on the cry of 'No Popery,' and every Whig was called a Papist. Sheridan, neglecting to canvass for Westminster, lost it. Sir Christopher Baynes in vain endeavoured to raise the cry of 'No Popery' in Middlesex. At Canterbury, Sandwich, Dover, and Kincardineshire, the Ministerial candidates were beat. Colonel Ponsonby declined Derry. We were beat in Hampshire and Durham. Fuller gained Surrey. Grattan was returned for Dublin. At the meeting of Parliament Ministers disowned the cry. Mr. Perceval alone said that it was the general cry of the people and must be well founded. I stayed at Woodnesboro' till July 15, when I came to London; and, after having passed a few days there and a few at Woburn, I began my tour through Scotland with my father, the Duchess, and Dr. Hunt. For this tour see Volume III.

Volume III. is entitled, 'A Journal of John Russell during a Tour to the Lakes and Scotland,' and commences-'On Monday, August 3, 1807, I left Woburn Abbey in company with the Duke and Duchess of Bedford and the Rev. Dr. Hunt.' The tourists passed through Northampton, Leicester, Manchester, Lancaster, and Kendal, reaching Windermere on the following Thursday. There they were the guests of Mr. Curwen, and made acquaintance with Dr. Watson, Bishop of Llandaff.1

He is a man of a very strong mind, very great learning, and an astonishing power of voice. He put me in mind of the idea I had formed of Dr. Johnson, excepting that his manners were perfectly those of a gentleman. The Bishop attacked some lawyers who were there concerning their defending men whom they knew

1 Mr. Curwen was one of the pioneers of reform. He carried in 1809 a measure for preventing the sale of seats in the House of Commons., Watson, Bishop of Llandaff, is chiefly recollected (1) as the author of An Apology for the Bible, a book written in reply to Tom Paine's Age of Reason; and (2) as living continuously in the Lakes without going to his see.

« EdellinenJatka »