HIS REAL POWER; HE WAS TRUSTED.
But whatever his merits as a speaker, it was to the general confidence felt in his judgment, motives, and character that Lord Palmerston owed the great position which he latterly occupied in the country. Public confidence is, for a statesman in a free community, one of the first requisites for success; and if this be wanting no amount of brilliancy in speaking will long supply such a capital defect. There have, no doubt, been temporary exceptions; but leaders of party in England, and above all, leaders of the Liberal party, must command the moral trust as well as the intellectual homage of thinking men. It was felt that Lord Palmerston, with all his vigour of action and desire for personal distinction, which alone can give the necessary stimulus to exertion, was yet never moved by love of display, whether personal or national; that, having a full sense of responsibility, he despised no details; and therefore, while limiting the objects to be aimed at by a careful consideration of the means at his disposal, he would launch the country on no enterprise until he saw clearly how it should be carried through without being abandoned half-way. His calm judgment made him independent of the forces which so often act on our public men, namely, the taunts and reproaches of foreign statesmen and writers, whose interests are certainly not British interests, and who generally give us their warmest approval when we are playing their game and not our own, or at any rate are satisfying their feelings of not unnatural jealousy. In short, Lord Palmerston's
ticularly connected with the position of the country to which it belongs, because in an island country it is natural that one of the first functions of an efficient civic corporation should be to regulate the immigration of the vast multitude of the inhabitants of the ocean that come in contact with the population (laughter). That duty has been from time to time most worthily performed by this corporation; and I am told that to this day the inhabitants of this great metropolis are weekly and daily indebted to its guardian care; for that there are multitudes of immigrants that come here from the depths of the ocean unfitted to mix with the population of this island, and being unable to obtain the necessary passport are refused an entrance through the vigilance of this ancient corporation (laughter).'
character, free from bombast, though not deficient in self-assertion, was typical of the English of his day, and inspired the confidence which it deserved. I find among his papers the following passage, copied out by himself from some essay which he had been reading about De Witt, Grand Pensionary of Holland. It may serve as an appropriate ending to this story of his career :—
The statesman who, in treading the slippery path of politics, is sustained and guided only by the hope of fame or the desire of a lofty reputation, will not only find himself beset with incessant temptations to turn aside from the line of strict integrity, but the disappointment he is sure to meet with will probably drive him to misanthropy, perhaps even irritate him to tarnish by vindictive treachery a virtue founded upon no solid or enduring principle. But the statesman who looks in the simple performance of his duty for consolation and support amid all the toils and sufferings which that duty may call him to encounter, who aims not at popularity, because he is conscious that continued popularity rarely accompanies systematic and unyielding integrity; who, as he is urged to no questionable measures by the hope of fame, so he is deterred from none that are just by the fear of censure, such a man may steer a steady course through the shoals and breakers of the stormiest sea; and whether he meet with the hatred or gratitude of his countrymen is to him a consideration of minor moment, for his reward is otherwise sure. He has laboured with constancy for great objects; he has conferred signal benefits upon his fellowmen; nobler occupation man cannot aspire to; greater reward it would be very difficult to obtain.
This extract bears date 1843. Did Lord Palmerston make these maxims his own? His public life, I venture to think, proves that he did.
ABERDEEN, Earl of : estimate of, i.
168 (note), ii. 165; his action at the
Foreign Office, i. 450; Lord Palmers-
ton's speech criticising his foreign
policy and contrasting his own,
471; formation of his Coalition Min-
istry, ii. 258, declaration of his
policy, an indirect tribute to Pal-
merston's foreign policy, 260; letters
to, 274, 279; reply to Palmerston's
mem. suggesting sending fleet to
Black Sea, 275; different views
as to action, 279; effect of his bias
on negotiations, 282.
Correspon-
dence on the Russian question, 283-
291, hesitation to adopt Palmerston's
decisive measures, influence of the
Prince Consort, 284; disagrees with
Palmerston's suggested ultimatum
to Russia, 290; Crimean disasters;
declines Lord J. Russell's suggestion
to transfer Palmerston to War Office,
301, Roebuck's motion for inquiry,
301, startling majority against the
Government, 303, end of the Coali-
tion Ministry, ib.
Acre, St. Jean d', Capture of, i. 394
Adelaide, Queen, health of, i. 326; in-
fluence of, ib.
Adrianople, Treaty of, i. 118
Afghanistan: defeat of Dost Ma-
hommed, i. 396; history of the Cabul
expedition, 398, British support of
Soojah Shah, 399; occupation of
Cabul and subsequent disaster, 400
Alexander, Emperor, contrasted with
his father, ii. 329
Algeria: speech on French cruelties
in, i. 411; French occupation of,
All the Talents,' Sudden collapse of
ministry of, i. 35
Almack's, Lady Cowper at, i. 86
Althorp, Lord, breaks down on the
Irish Coercion Bill, i. 303
Anglesey, Marquis of: difficulties as
Lord Lieutenant, i. 182; reserve
used towards him by Wellington,
ib.; his recall, 185; activity of, 440
Anstey, Mr., attacks Palmerston's
foreign policy, ii. 61
Anti-Catholics, Opposition of, i. 91
Anti-Corn Law League. See Free
Apponyi, Count, warned by Palmer-
ston that our fleet would follow
that of Austria to the Baltic, ii.
432
Aquila, Count, Interview with, ii. 235
Arbitration, International, proposed
by Cobden, ii. 60; Palmerston's
reservations, ib.
Army force under arms in 1810, i.
63; in 1816, i. 73
Ascot, Emperor of Russia at, i. 466
Ashburton, Lord: qualifications as a
special ambassador, i. 422; Lord
Ashburton and Mr. Webster, ib.;
Palmerston's opinion of him, 452,
and of his treaty, ib.
Ashburton Treaty, The, i. 421; de-
nounced by Palmerston, 423, 452
Ashley Lord: Mining Act for the pro-
tection of women and children, i.
447, supported by Lord Palmer-
ston, ib.; his factory act, 460, sup-
ported by Lord Palmerston, ib.,
Asiatics, Necessary policy towards,
defined, ii. 33
Attacks in the press upon him on
various occasions, ii. 249; and effi-
cacy of legal proceedings, ib.
Auckland's, Lord, meeting with Run-
jeet Singh, i. 400
Austria (see also 'Metternich'): in-
efficiency of her army, i. 173, Lord
Cowley's opinion thereon, ib.; sup-
pression of insurrection in Papal
States, and Modena and Parma,
240; Austria and the Italian con-
federation, 295, 299; Palmerston's
policy towards Austria and Italy,
299; death of the Emperor, 315;
state of the country in 1835, 316;
decline of Metternich's influence,
324; Austria and France, 382;
caution to Metternich concerning
Switzerland, ii. 10; relation to
Italy in 1846, and British views
thereon, 12; The Holy Alliance'
and Cracow, 31, violation of the
Treaty of Vienna, ib., British pro-
test against, 32; occupation of
Ferrara, 42; action in Italy, 45;
retirement of Metternich, 57; im-
minent interference in Italy and
Palmerston's warning, 63; further
complications, 84, attitude of
Great Britain, ib.; Baron Humma-
lauer as envoy, ib.; evil influence
of Metternich's example, 84; ex-
pected independence of Lombardy,
84; abdication of Ferdinand fore-
seen by Palmerston, 84; her policy
indicated, 86, necessity of a strong
sovereign shown, 87; complete
Austrian success and mediation of
England and France, 88; Palmer-
ston on the Austrians in Italy, 88;
offensive attitude to Palmerston
personally, 91; failure of negotia-
tions, 92; disaster of Novara, ib.;
dependence on Russia, 94; leaning
of a section of the English towards,
99, 106. Civil war in Hungary, 103,
position of the Kaiser king, 104,
Palmerston on the position, 104,
his sympathy for oppressed Hun-
gary, 105. Joint demand of Russia
and Austria for delivery of Kossuth
and the other fugitives by the Porte,
107, attitude of Turkey supported
by England, 107, decisive action
of the British cabinet-the fleet to
the Dardanelles, 110, Palmerston's
negotiations, 113, and warning,
114, successful result of united
action of England and France, 114,
Palmerston's objection to confine-
ment of the refugees, 121, their
ultimate release, 124. General
Haynau and Barclay's draymen.
169; rivalry of Prussia in Ger-
many, 170; her position, 172; non-
attendance at Wellington's funeral,
255. Abrupt menace of the French
emperor, 362, conclusion of the
Austro-French war, 365, Palmer-
ston's objections to the French
peace proposals, 366, conference at
Zurich, 367, sympathy of the
English court, 369, hostility attri-
buted to Palmerston, 371. His
efforts for Italian unity, 372; his
memorandum on policy towards
Italy, 380; ultimate results of the
war, 385; raises difficulties in the
negotiations concerning the Polish
outbreak, 421. The Sleswig-Holstein
difficulty, outbreak of war, 430,
warning from Palmerston that
English fleet would follow that of
Austria to the Baltic, 432
Azeglio, M. de, acknowledges Palmer-
ston's aid to Italy, ii. 94
BALEARIC ISLANDS, Assembly
of French squadron with inten-
tion to seize the, i. 386
Ballot, the, His objection to, ii. 245
Belgium: growing importance of the
Belgian question, i. 212; discontent
in, 215; M. Van der Weyer's mis-
sion to England, 216; constitution
of the Netherlands kingdom, 217;
grievances of Belgium, 219; popu-
lation of Belgium and Holland
(note), ib.; English attitude to,
223; difficulties of the Belgic ques-
tion, 228; crown offered to Duc de
Nemours, 229, British objections,
234, selection of Prince Leopold,
230; earliest French concessions,
233; Baron de Chokier appointed
regent, 239; the dismantling of
the fortresses, 246; French claims
to territory, 247, 248; Leopold's
objection, 251; hesitation of the
Belgians, 252; their pretensions
rebuked, 253; new conditions of
separation, 257; English resolve
to recognise Leopold, 258; Leopold
becomes king, 260; advance of the
Dutch into, 261; entrance of the
French, 262; Palmerston's refusal
to treat of the fortresses whilst
the French are in Belgium, 266,
marked result of this firmness (note)
266, and French concessions, 268,
final success of the negotiations,
271, 275; Leopold's wish to retain
French troops, 272, Palmerston's
objection, 273; he points out dan-
ger of conceding territory, 272,
Talleyrand's secret negotiation for
partition, 272; judicious action of
Leopold, 277; Palmerston's policy
tested by the position to-day, 280,
beneficial results of English policy,
321; high position of King Leopold,
Berryer, M., French oratory and,
i. 478
Beyrout surrendered to Admiral Stop-
ford, i. 382
Bloomfield, Lord: refused an au-
dience by the Czar, 123
Blucher, Marshal: attempted escape
with Hohenlohe after Jena, i. 29;
tribute to, 30
Borough franchise, Transfer of, i. 129;
difficulties of, 149
Borough seats, Traffic in, i. 31
'Bottle-holder, The Judicious,' origin
of the term, ii. 125
Bowring, Sir John, sent to Naples,
i. 327; Palmerston's opinion of
him, ib.
Bribery at elections in 1841, i. 407
Bright, John, Right Hon. : accuses
Palmerston of levity in his speech
on Sir C. Napier, ii. 294, Palmer-
ston's reply, ib., opinions upon it,
ib.; isolated position towards the
Crimean war, 325; loses his seat,
346
Broadlands, Account of, i. 299
Brougham, Lord: Palmerston's reply
to, i. 73; Palmerston's opinion of,
112; in France after the revolution
and desire to be naturalised, ii. 81;
motion on foreign affairs, 96, and
its defeat, 98
Brunnow, M. de: friendly action of
Russia through, i. 361; discussion
with, on the demand for the de-
livery of the Hungarian refugees,
ii. 108; letter to, 420
Brunswick, Duke of: his death, i. 26;
contemptuous treatment of, by
Napoleon, ib.; his courage, 28
Bunsen's, M., communication to Pal-
merston on Swiss affairs, ii. 6
Butler's, General, proclamation at
New Orleans: Palmerston's sym-
pathy with its victims, ii. 105
Byron's, Lord, sympathy with Greece,
i. 114
CAMBRIDGE University: success-
fully contests it with Copley, 92;
again returned, 96, gratifying re-
sult of re-election, 97, and its inci-
dents, ib.
Canada: despatch of troops to, after the
'Trent affair,' ii. 412; Palmerston's
watchful guard of, 415, shown in
his last few days, 455
Canning, Mr.: becomes foreign secre-
tary, 90; made premier, 104; embar-
rassment in connection with his offer
of the Exchequer to Palmerston, 107;
difficulties in formation of ministry,
108; death, 111; what was a Can-
ningite? 124; tribute to Canning
and his party, 125; compared with
Chateaubriand, 209; the Quadruple
Alliance, the completion of his policy,
301
Canton, Capture of, ii. 358
Capo d'Istria, Assassination of, i. 281
Carlos, Don: pretensions of, i. 283;
hopelessness of his cause, 330, 339
Casimir Périer: becomes premier of
France, i. 230; appreciation of, 241,
253; encouraged, 259; agreement
with Sebastiani, 264, note; assur-
ance from, ib. and 265
Catholic Emancipation: limited relief
proposed by Lords Grenville and
Howick, i. 35, George III.'s objec-
tions, ib., Perceval's opposition,
38, Lord Palmerston's comments
thereon, 39; advocated by him, and
his reasons, 71; opposition of the
anti-Catholics, 91; Palmerston re-
turned for Cambridge University
as its advocate, 91; Wellington's
change of attitude towards, 165;
speech on, 190; accepted by
George IV., 193
Catholic University, Palmerston's ob-
jection to a, ii. 444
Catholic vote, The, and Italy, ii. 443;
and the colleges, ib.
Catholics, Proposed State aid to, i.
Cavour, Count: retains Palmerston's
translation of Garter Oath as an ar-
chive, ii. 235; conference at Zurich
and his resignation, 367
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