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Christ in the land. I am sure they will repent when it is too late. The Church of England will come next in hand for a purifying process, and indeed it seems full time. We were very much satisfied with the advocacy of the cause in the Commons by Fox Maule, Mr. Rutherford, etc. They will begin to understand something about the matter in England at last, and our moral example will not fall profitless to the ground."

The death of Earl Spencer (Lord Althorp), which occurred in 1845, caused my father very sincere grief. Similarity of tastes, a common interest in many great problems of political philosophy which they regarded from the same point of view in a great measure, and the qualities of honesty, purity, and trustingness possessed by both, were elements which constituted a very true and lasting friendship. One who knew Lord Spencer summed up a review of his character with the words, "But above all, his opinions upon questions, both speculative and practical, were guided by a humble reliance on the goodness of God, and a conviction that he was bound, in whatever he might think or do whether in following or resisting his own inclination--to obey the law of Christ."

1

He died the year before the repeal of the Corn Laws, which he had for so many years wished to see. He wrote to my father a week or two before his death, asking him to visit him. "Come whenever you can," he said, "and stay

1 Probably few persons ever disliked office and the consequent enforced residence in London so heartily as Lord Spencer did. In a letter of my father's of recent date he says, "I often think of dear Lord Althorp's saying to me when in office at the passing of the Reform Bill, 'If I were once out, they'll never catch me again. I just know, every Monday morning, on coming to Downing Street, the feeling that makes a man throw himself over London Bridge!""

as long as you can. I understood what passed between us at Shrewsbury as an engagement. It is a long time since I saw you."

FROM MY FATHER TO HIS DAUGHTER, MRS. E. GARSTON.

DILSTON, October 13, 1845.

"Poor, dear Lord Spencer! I heard of his death in Ireland, and it made me miserable. I had so recently spent four days in his house and society, having had a large share of the latter to myself. I had not visited him for long, and he had much to show me and talk about. He was most kind; reminded me of our early acquaintance, our journeying among the fine farms of the Tweed, and our frequent intercourse; spoke with pleasant anticipation of the Society's meeting in Newcastle next July; said that his duty as steward of the yard requiring his attendance at six o'clock, rendered it necessary that he should sleep in the town; but that he would take a quiet day at Dilston before or after. Alas! how futile are the schemes of men ! I left him on the Monday, and on the Wednesday of the following week he was no more. I cannot get his figure, his amiable and intelligent look, and his peculiar laugh, out of my mind's eye and ear. It is a public, and to me a private loss; for he was always the same kind friend."

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CHAPTER VII.

"We plough the deep, and reap what others sow."

S the great crisis drew near for the final repeal of the Corn Laws, the excitement and anxiety in the country increased. An Agricultural Protection Society had risen up in opposition to the Anti-Corn-Law League, and both were disseminating their views with redoubled zeal, by means of tracts and lectures and speeches. The great Protectionist landowners and members of Parliament, however, ceased to appear so much at public meetings, and scarcely showed themselves at great agricultural gatherings, aware, perhaps, that they could no longer speak with the certainty they once did about their cherished Protection laws. They busily organized their forces, however, in the House of Commons. The terrible accounts arriving daily of the danger of famine in Ireland meanwhile brought home very sternly and pressingly to the minds of the more thoughtful politicians the question of cheapening the bread of the people. In December, 1845, Sir Robert Peel's Ministry resigned office, but only for a short time. In the interval, Lord John Russell attempted to form a Ministry, and failed.

The debates on the subject began in February, 1846,

and lasted until June.

They were rancorous enough some

times, often long and tedious.

It soon became evident

which way the tide had set.

Sir George Grey wrote to my father :—

"LONDON, Feb. 1, 1846.

"DEAR MR. GREY,-Thank you for your letter. The changes of opinion every day are indeed surprising enough, and the language we now hear from the Treasury Benches in the House of Commons is all the most ardent Free-trader could desire. I am not without hope that Sir R. Peel may give up the 'three years,' if he finds a general expression of opinion against it; but you will see from Lord J. Russell's speech that we shall do nothing to endanger or retard the measure proposed, which is too good to be risked on comparatively unimportant grounds.

"I see no prospect of an early dissolution, I mean while this measure is pending. I think there will be a large majority in the House of Commons, and that it will go through the Lords. What the ultimate effect on the stability of the Government may be is a different question, and I do not think things can go on long in their present position.

"The fight was begun last night rather languidly, and the language of the Protectionists is that of a beaten party. -Believe me, very truly yours, G. GREY."

The pleasure which was felt by sound economists in the triumph of Free-trade principles achieved in the summer of 1846 by the repeal of the Corn Laws, was counterbalanced by the anxiety with which they were compelled to watch its effects for several years, throughout the severe trial which, like almost all reforms, it had to undergo in the early stage

of its existence. The cry of agricultural distress did not end, and the reaction in favour of the restoration of Protection reached its climax when Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli came into office, partly on the strength of the belief of a majority of the country that they would restore Protection. The following are extracts from letters written about that time by my father to his eldest daughter in China :—

"March, 1850.

The session would have

"MY DEAREST ELIZA,gone off pretty quietly, I think, especially as the finance accounts are favourable—and Charles Wood makes a good balance had not that odd, though in some respects clever, man, Palmerston, put his foot into it, by an untoward movement about small debts due by Greece. In principle he is borne out, but it is too trifling an affair to risk the peace of Europe upon, or even to cause ill-will by; and there is a feeling of sympathy for Greece from ancient associations and modern sufferings which rouses a spirit of opposition to any actions which bear a mark of oppression towards her."

"DILSTON, June 15, 1850.

"You will see by the Newcastle papers how we keep squabbling on:-Agricultural distress; Protectionist meetings; Ministers often in a minority, but no party ́strong enough in combined opinion to take their places."

We all remember how the hopes of the Protectionist party throughout the country were disappointed by the sudden enlightenment of some members of Lord Derby's Government on the unsoundness of the theories which they had until now supported.

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