Letters of Lord Acton Part 25

[116] Leo XIII.

[117] November 15, 1848. After the murder of Count Rossi, his Liberal Minister of the Interior, Pius IX. left Rome, and fled to Gaeta, from which he only returned under the protection of French bayonets.

[118] The introduction of the Irish Land Bill.

[119] The late Duke of Argyll's resignation.

[120] Lord Carlingford succeeded him.

[121] Mr. Gladstone's eleventh.

[122] To the Academy.

[123] See p. 48.

[124] The first Lord Cairns.

[125] "It is true, Holy Father, I have failed.

[126] Lord Beaconsfield.

[127] The Sultan's.

[128] See Diary in Ruskin's "Letters to M. and H. G." (privately printed).

[129] For burial in the Abbey.

[130] Lord Lansdowne's and Lord Listowel's.

[131] Judah Philip Benjamin, Q.C., author of "Benjamin on Sales." He left America after the defeat of the South, and attained great distinction at the English Bar.

[132] Mr. Gladstone did not arrive in time after the Easter recess to give notice of his own motion for a public memorial to Lord Beaconsfield, who died on the 19th of April 1881. The notice was given on Mr. Gladstone's behalf by Lord Richard Grosvenor, now Lord Stalbridge.

[133] Convicted at the Old Bailey for incitement to the murder of the German Emperor.

[134] Mr. Gladstone's.

[135] Of the Irish Land Bill.

[136] Mr. Gladstone predicted that, if the Conservatives defeated the Bill and came into office, they would themselves introduce not a smaller, but a larger measure.

[137] Sir John Skelton, K.C.B., author of "Thala.s.sa," Scottish disciple of Disraeli, a brilliant and scholarly writer.

[138] Canon Maccoll.

[139] The death of a little daughter.

[140] W. H. Gladstone, M.P.

[141] The late Duke of Argyll.

[142] Mr. Gladstone's retirement.

[144] At Leeds.

[145] "Like some tall bully, lifts its head and lies."

[146] The County Franchise Bill.

[147] To Knowsley.

[148] The King.

[149] "The Life of Cobden."

[150] The late Sir Charles Gavan Duffy.

[151] Mr Gladstone's.

[152] (HAWARDEN, 15_th Nov._ 1881).--"_Tete-a-tete_ breakfast. A long most interesting talk on the great vexed question of his retirement; started by his saying that he and Lord Granville had discussed it, Lord G. good-humouredly declaring it out of the question. I quoted to him Lord Acton's words, how it would be a serious flaw in his political career to damage and perhaps ruin the Liberal party, by retiring from the leadership while in full possession of health and strength. He said the same arguments had been used in Lord Palmerston's case--that it was said the power and cohesion of the party depended on one man's life; that history had proved in that case that this was not so; that in his own case he had retired in '74 for good; that his rea.s.sumption of office was accidental, conditional, and temporary; that it was undertaken for certain purposes foreshadowed in his Midlothian Speeches; that these purposes were all or nearly all accomplished; that if he did not retire after Ireland was settled, and House of Commons procedure readjusted, there was no moment in the future when it would be possible--that Lord Hartington (now Duke of Devonshire) was a man of unusual strength and ability, but that before becoming Prime Minister he required more training as House of Commons leader. (I objected that he might at any moment go to the House of Lords, which would immensely weaken his influence; and besides, who could then lead the House of Commons?) The future leader of H. of C. was a great puzzle and difficulty. Sir Charles Dilke would probably be the man best fitted for it, he had shown much capacity for learning and unlearning, but he would require Cabinet training first; that as time brings nearer Lord Hartington's move into House of Lords, force was added to the argument in favour of his own retirement. That he did not foresee great difficulties ahead for the Liberal party; that the Conservative ditto had thrown away what should have been their strength--the return to the principles and policy of Sir R. Peel; that they were demoralised and degraded; that they had inherited the vices of Lord Beaconsfield without his tact and judgment: (Lord B.'s climax was reached in his attack on Sir Robert Peel. What a magnificent virulence he had shown; what a power of cutting and piercing the man through a searching knowledge of his character); that this jingoism was perpetuated in them, and must eventually be their ruin. That of Forster, Harcourt, and Childers it was hard indeed to say which was best qualified for leading; that Forster would probably be the best, but that he had shown occasional incapacity; that Goschen had sadly injured himself by following up his errors as to franchise with an elaborate eulogium of weak-kneed Liberalism--(I quoted Lord A. again 'that he might resign place, but could not resign power'). He demurred to this: for two years--1874 to 1876--he insisted he had had no influence on the Lib.

party, that he should attend the H. of C. very rarely, and possibly begin by going abroad before the Session."

[153] The Goschens.

[154] The late Dr. Hatch's Lectures on the "Organisation of the Early Christian Churches."

[155] The husband of George Eliot.

[156] A short Life of Newman, by Mr. Jennings.

[157] Mr. Goschen.

[158] Sir Erskine May.

[159] The Comte de Montlosier, a French emigrant, Royalist, historian, antiquary, feudalist, and Liberal Catholic.

[160] Lord Monck, first Governor-General of Federated Canada.

[161] George Eliot.

[162] Sir George Errington.

[163] The vote of censure on the Lords for appointing a Committee to inquire into the operation of the Irish Land Act.

[164] His correspondent's name for his "History of Liberty." It was of course taken from the t.i.tle of Mr. Henry James's delightful novel.

[165] On the 2nd of March a lunatic named Martin fired at the Queen and Princess Beatrice at Windsor Station.