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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