answer of Mr Huskisson. No answer excellent business abilities like his were had arrived up to that hour; in an not the commonest article to be found interview which the Duke had with in a great manufacturing and com. the King, a successor to Mr Huskis- mercial country! If all clever and son was proposed ; and under these acute clerks were to be collected togecircumstances, the Duke returned him ther in Smithfield Market, to the sound his letter unopened, as he thought of a horn, heavens what a heap of that it would not be fair to open it, Huskissons in every hurdle ! while Mr Huskisson did not know The praise, however fervent and that an interview had taken place, sincere, which a public character beand that his successor had been ap- stows on himself, never impresses us pointed. This is a kind of delicacy half so much as that which comes, more easily understood, and more dif. even coldly and reluctantly, from the ficult to be appreciated than that ex- lips of others. During the whole of hibited by Mr Huskisson in his first these explanations, nobody said a sin, letter. It is genuine-the other is spa- gle good word for the ex-colonial Serious and of all spurious things, spu- cretary but Mr Huskisson—but he, it rious delicacy is the most disgusting.

must be allowed, laid it on thickThe audience of the King, solicited over eyes, nose, and mouth, till the with such a parade of loyal gratitude, object of his panegyric must have been by this reformed Jacobin, was grant- really both blinded and smothered. ed-and enjoyed, no doubt, with those “ Usefully I will not say, but zealousfeelings peculiar and appropriate to ly I can promise, to attend to the pubthe least enviable situation in which lic interests of this great empire, to a minister of the crown can be placed, the utmost of my power, and the best by his own folly and intrigues. His of my ability. Sir, these last best Majesty's gracious favour was, how- titles and honours to win and wear, ever, rich recompense to this disinte- is, in this country, fortunately, not rested Patriot for the loss of office, the exclusive, the peculiar privilege and he is now-no wonder no doubt of any one particular class of the com -one of the happiest and proudest munity. There exists here no confeof men.

deracy of any great families--no array He is, we say, one of the proudest of noble houses, which can deprive of men. Hear him crow. " I hope me of my fair claim to compete for I have preserved self-approbation, my them. These are my birth-right as personal honour, my public character, an Englishman-not being a Catholic, the support and approbation of my and in the earnest exercise of that ad. personal

and political friends-an un- mitted birth-right, I shall still coniarnished public character !!!" Oh! tinue, sir, to endeavour to deserve the that Heaven would give us “ the gift good opinion of this House, and the to see ourselves as others see us !" approbation of my country.” Mr Then would this person feel the folly Crabbe, in one of his poems, after inof such vaunting; and, brazen-faced dulging himself in a larger dose of deas he is, hang down his head beneath scription than he generally allows the universal contempt and scorn with himself—a fine description of a ghost which it has been assailed all over the -seems to be suddenly struck with empire.

a sense of the absurdity of making use Why, even the often-purchased of so many fine words about little or Whig and Radical Press is mute in nothing, and breaks off with a line his defence. Not a greasy chin wags something like the following :in behalf of his “ untarnished repu- “ Bah! bother ! blarney! what the deuce tation." Untarnished indeed! It is is this !” dyed black-so that the spots are not Mr Huskisson might have so ended visible. Never was public man sunk his peroration with great effect and perso low-so meanly and so basely low. fect propriety-for never was there a Willing to work for pay under any Mi- clumsier edition of Much Ado about nistry—even under the men who, in Nothing published in that House. Nohis opinion, murdered his best friend, thing can be moreunlike eloquence than his Patron, his Benefactor, his very such miserable and misapplied comMaker! Yet, with all his greedy meana monplaces. A third or fourth rate man, ness, proud as a piece of red flesh, and Mr Huskisson is no more, looks Beelzebub, or a Turkey Cock. As if inexpressibly absurd on his legs, be

daubing himself all over with fetid gether ; but ere a couple of hours have flattery, and playing the Spirit of expired, hear— see how he lets the the Age in the hearing of some hun- great big red thundering cat out of the dreds of people who all very well bag—how he hates the aristocracy of know him to be a capital hand at ac- England,-how he fears, distrusts, counts, but not one of whom would and dislikes the Duke of Wellington! care twopence though he were dead

“ I began by stating, sir--and I really to-morrow. Mr Huskisson, in that am sorry to have been compelled to detaia inspired fit of self-laudation, stood in the House at such length--that I have not that predicament. The House, who the time, neither is it for me to attempt, to knew him to be an able man, was account for the motives which led to my perplexed to hear him braying on this dismissal. With these motives (of which occasion like the creature that chews I cannot profess to know anything) I have the thistle. There he stood--for near.

now nothing to do; but this I will say, ly three hours as we have heard it calformed by the noble Duke who is at the

that when the present administration was culated—visibly and audibly in the head of it, I did (contrary to the advice wrong-foundering along like a half- of several of my friends, contrary to the drunk man in a moss and a mist deliberate judgment of many who would and often planted up to the middle in have dissuaded me from that step) consent a quagmire. All the House smirk- to take a share in that administration. I ing, smiling, leering, laughing, gufo consented to do so exclusively on public fawing-even like the Blue Parlour in grounds. When I considered that the proPicardy during a Noctes Ambrosi. posal which was thus made had been made anæ-and yet the orator convinced all

to me jointly with so many of my friends, the while of his “ continuing to dea who had, like myself, held office under the

administration then recently dissolved ; serve the good opinion of this House,

when I looked to the perfect similarity of and the approbation of the country!" opinions and general policy which had so It is painful to see a fool publicly ex

long subsisted between me and the parties pose himself; but pleasant to see a to whom I allude; when I reflected that person do so of an entirely different the great executive departments of the description; and we lost a treat by state, one of which, indeed, I myself was losing our passage in the James Watt invested with, were committed to their Steamer the week before Mr Huskis- charge ; when I reverted to our former son's exposé and exposure.

perfect union, cordial co-operation, and As Mr Huskisson waxed warm, in good understanding; and when I consideed wroth, towards the conclusion of dered, also, the nature of certain intimahis barangue, so did he also wax im- I did think, sir, that, as a public man, I

tions which I received at the same time prudent. The veil of affected mode

was bound to continue in the King's serration, and humility, and delicacy, vice. I felt that by so continuing, jointly and so forth, with which he at first with my friends, under the circumstances shaded his fair features, fell off, or I have just been referring to, I should find rather was thrown aside by the im- the best chance of following out and estapassioned Ex-secretary, and he gave blishing those principles, and those mea. vent, in terms somewhat abusive and sures, of free trade and commercial policy, Billingsgate, to the rancour which it to which I am known to be attached, and then appeared must have been long for the full developement and ultimate gathering within his bosom. The

success of which I have long been so an. large pustule, having come to a point, posed, however, I was blind, in the mean.

xious. (Hear, hear.) Let it not be supburst, and there was a copious dis-while, to the mighty influences which charge of green and yellow matter.

were so actively opposed to those princi. According to his first letter, all was ples_let it not be supposed, that after unanimity in the Cabinet.

the hostility which had been manifested to “ Behold how good a thing it is,

those measures that after all that I had And how becoming well,

experienced, and all that I had witnessed,

on this head, for the twelve months then Together such as brethren are

last passed, I was blind to the prejudices In unity to dwell!"

which existed against them, or unconsci. of that perfect unanimity his vote on ous of the antipathies which had been the question of East Retford was, he who entertained such views and such opi

excited and encouraged against all men tells us, but a seeming disturbance. nionslet it not be imagined that I was All was right and tight, like a bundle not aware of all the difficulties which of sticks-and he himself the band would beset our perseverance in that syswhich bound them all infrangibly to- tem. I did know of them. But as those

influences, powerful as I felt assured they highest authority, which did the indivi. were, and the sway of these prejudices and dual from whom they proceeded the high. antipathies, had again become predomi. est honour." dant, I did feel,' that if a victim to them

Here he runs off into some details were required, it were better that that not very intelligible to us—and most should be the individual advocate than the general principles which he had en

to profoundly uninteresting-yet spiced deavoured to support. Without these, I throughout with meanness and malice. believed it would not be long possible to

Suffice it that we now ask the reader retain that influence and support of the

one question-and be he Whig or present political connexions of the noble Tory, to that question he will return Dake, as we had retained them during the but one answer, if an honest man. Is last session of parliament, unless I was to the passage we have now quoted from suppose that different views and principles Mr Huskisson's speech consistent with were really to be acted on by that noble his assertion, that on writing his first person, and that those of which I have letter to the Duke, he was influenced spoken, were no longer to form any part of solely and entirely by an earnest dethe policy of the new government. But sire to relieve him from the “ deliwhen I look to the-satisfaction (shall I kay)—with which I must infer that my cacy” of the situation in which, by communication was received ; to the inci. that unlucky and unavoidable vote, he dents which attended, and the result which had unexpectedly been placed? But has followed from it; I do think it must one answer, we say, can be returned have been considered necessary, in order to to that question by every honest man. pacify the powerful party I have adverted For here is a confession of latent fears to, that the state of things for which they and suspicions, and dislikes in his own were anxious should be supported by the bosom-towards his colleagues, and removal of the individual whose principles the friends and supporters of his colo were most opposed to it. (Hear.) I own leagues-here is something like the that it would have been far more satis- old leaven of Jacobinism, seeking to factory to my feelings if I had been in- leaven the whole mass. genuously told that a necessity for my res signation had arisen out of their

But, emboldened by the sound of

apprehensions about those principles, and that his own voice, harshly grating on all policy ; that they augured so much danger ears but his own, during so long a peto the public and to themselves from the riod of precious time, (half an hour views which I espoused, that, short of this, would have done the business, had his nothing would allay their fears. It would cause been good,) Mr Huskisson lifts have been far more satisfactory if the noble up his leg, and exclains, “ Lo! there Duke had said to me:- Such are the is the cloven foot-ye Tories — ye alarms entertained by the individuals on

enemies of all improvement." Let us whose assistance I principally rely for car- hear the blundering blusterer :rying on my administration, that I am obliged, on their account, to act upon the “Notwithstanding the many zealous and only option which remains to me, by part- mutual congratulations which the friends ing with you. I do say, looking to what of Tory principles, as they call themselves, was the feeling of certain parties during which the enemies of all improvement, the last session of parliament, and compas have so liberally interchanged since my ring it with that which seems to be evi. removal_notwithstanding, sir, I say, those denced by the events that have occurred ebullitions of zeal, and those oversteppings within the last two months; and looking of prudence, which I have witnessed in to the very different manner in which cire some intemperate individuals, who think cumstances, similar in their nature to some that the removal from office of those friends that were then dealt with, have now been of mine, my late colleagues, who are now taken up, I cannot help thinking that some no longer members of his Majesty's governsuch sentiment as this has really operated ment, is the only adequate apology which in respect of myself. If I must assume the noble Duke can make for ever having the fact of this resignation as an intima- at all connected himself with us; and al. tion, if not of a reversal, yet of a change though I find that some of those indivi. of this system of policy, I cannot but regret duals think it is the best mode of doing that this unfortunate two-o'clock-in-the honour to the feelings of the noble Duke, morning letter of mine was written, or that, (in which action they are most egregiouswhen it was received, it did not occur (as ly mistaken,) to say that his best excuse it might have occurred) to the recollection of is to be found in the removal of my col. some persons, that on an occasion some. leagues all at once-notwithstanding all what analogous to this, and which hap. these ebullitions, and in spite of_I know pened not more than two months ago, cer. not what to call them—the boisterous fits tsin sentiments were uttered upon the of mirth of those clubs.I should rather

say of those venerable buffoons (cheers) the spread of knowledge, or contemplates

- who congregate once a-year to attempt with alarm the extension of a system which
a fraud on the ignorance of some classes shall communicate and reciprocate in all
of the people, under pretence of doing parts of the world the benefits resulting
honour to the memory of an illustrious from commercial intercourse, or from the
statesman-I say, sir, notwithstanding these interchange of those improvements which
extravagant expressions of joy now burst- have been for some time past gradually dif-
ing from the same quarters where, but a fusing themselves over all the civilised
few days before, all was deep and bitter states of the world an interchange which
wailing at the progress which the cause of involves the surest principles of general
civil liberty had made in this House, and advantage with the capability of its widest
at the prospect thus opened, so far as a vote possible diffusion. (Hear, hear.) I will
of this House could indicate it, of giving not think such things of such an individual
religious and political tranquillity to Ire I will not think so lightly of a man of
land—(hear)-notwithstanding these cla- whose judgment I entertain so high an
morous exultations, these untoward signs opinion. I should be indeed passing the
of the times, I for one do not think that foulest libel on him if I were to suppose
the triumph of this party is so great, so that he could wish to see England again
certain, or so complete, as they are pleased placed in that political position in which
to anticipate—(cheers)—and I cannot think she should occupy but the fifth or sixth sta-
that my right hon. friend, (Mr Secretary tion among the nations, or in which she
Peel,) who, as far as I know, has never should be again dishonoured by a connex-
entertained any opinions different from ion with, or a dependence on, the Holy Al.
those which I had the honour to advocate liance (loud cheers); or if I could imagine
in this House, connected with all measures that he would think it a cheap price to pay
of general policy--the Roman Catholic for the support of such prejudices as I speak
question alone excepted—I cannot believe of-the putting down public opinion, the
that my right hon. friend has abandoned freedom of discussion, the freedom of the
principles to which he has heretofore given press, and all those other moral causes
his cordial support-I cannot believe that which now operate to the improvement of
while the feelings of this House and of the our common nature and of our political in-
country in favour of that general policy stitutions. (Cheers.) I will not believe
remain unchanged, they will sympathize that my right honourable friend would
with those exultations, whatever may be give the sanction of his support to mea-
the doctrine now about strict discipline- sures calculated, or at least intended, to
(cheers)—I cannot suppose that my right restrain the advance of human improve-
hon. friend will think or believe the sub- ment to impose fetters upon the energy
stantive power of the State ought to be in of the human mind-to place it again un.
powerful, but unknown hands; in the der the tutelage of superstition or the bon.
hands of persons who, for reasons which dage of ignorance, or that he would oppose
I will not call in question, because I do those measures of commercial policy which
not know them, and which they who do are the best, and safest, and most perma-
know them will not divulge, declare that nent securities of the prosperity and gran.
they are not candidates for public honours, deur of states, without compelling them to
and who yet, not being candidates for such have recourse to the more ancient and
honours, attempt to put a veto upon the much more dangerous defences of standing
councils of the country, and endeavour to armies. (Hear, hear.) I trust that if such
exclude from those councils such public ser mischievous projects should ever be the
vants as they happen to disapprove. (Hear.) views of any party in this country, my
I cannot imagine that my right hon. friend right honourable friend would be the first
either believes, or can be taught to believe, to repel and discountenance everything of
that such a party is a more proper tribunal that sort, and in that arduous task I am
than the House of Commons or the public confident he would at all times receive the
of England to decide upon the merits or support of parliament and the countenance
demerits of individuals connected with the of the British public.”
executive departments of the state: as little
can I believe that he is one of those per- John Lord Eldon called a venera-
sons who deem it to be the first duty of the ble buffoon, by such a vulgar fellow
legislature to resist the progress of improve- as William Huskisson! How must
ment, and to counteract every attempt to
remedy those defects in our ancient insti.

the gentlemen of England, spite of all tutions, whether existing in our legal tri party spirit, despise in disgust the bunals, or in our system of commercial po

As for Mr Peel,

insolent slanderer! licy, for example, which have grown up in

we hope, for the sake of his high hothe lapse of ages, and of which public nour and his high talents, that he opinion and the exigencies of society de. scorns the insidious eulogy thus spitemand the removal_i cannot believe that fully spat upon him; and certainly, he is one who looks with apprehension at though in some few parts rather too

mild and mawkish, his speech in re- things, of which Mr Huskisson knows ply to Huskisson was most triumph- no more than a Bat knows of rainant. Huskisson seems to think the bows, Mr Huskisson, therefore, should powers of a Minister far greater than not give his advice till it is asked for ; they ever were in his hands, and that Mr Peel is no patient of his, and needs Secretaries, Home, Foreign, and Co- not powders ; to attempt thrusting lonial, can place Britain as low down medicine down a man's throat, who, as they choose in the scale of nations. the quack himself admits, is, for the He cautions Mr Peel not to reduce time being, in good health, is, though her to the fifth or sixth order. That Mr Huskisson be no Catholic, a work is childish folly, and impertinence. of absurd and insolent supererogation. Britain will take too good care of her. That is not a privilege, or birth-right self, in the midst of all imaginable of his, by any manner of means; there mismanagement, to suffer any minise certainly are confederacies of noble ter, or set of ministers, to class her families in Great Britain to prevent among the junior optimes—to place that ; and the aristocracy of the counthe wooden spoon in her mouth. To try will not endure such practices at any man, who will tell us what this the hands of any Jacobin that ever brawler means, by hoping that Mr wore a red cap, or applied his feeling Peel will not put down public opie finger, with a well-satisfied grin, to nion, and destroy the liberty of the the fine edge of a guillotine. press, and stop the march of intellect, Mr Huskisson concluded his long and all those other moral causes which and windy harangue, by declaring! now operate to the improvement of his belief that “ he has not incurred our common nature and of our politi- the displeasure of his Sovereign, nor cal institutions, we here come under placed himself in any situation to a solemn engagement in the face of stain the fair character which he Europe to give, on the arrival of the hopes he has always maintained in first month with an R in it, a bushel this House.” He is grossly mistaken s of Powldoodies.

his Sovereign cannot but have been Mr Peel is in all things Mr Hus- displeased by his most suspicious rekisson's superior. Were the world all signation ; the House cares little about at once to be darkened, Mr Peel would him; and he knows that the whole feel exceedingly uncomfortable, and country is rejoiced that he is out of call for lights. Mr Peel knows well, the Government. and much delights in a thousand

Vol. XXIV.