An Anecdotal Biography. BY J. EWING RITCHIE ( CHRISTOPHER CRAYON ), AUTHOR OF ‘CITIES OF THE DAWN,’ ‘CRYING FOR THE LIGHT,’ ETC. LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, PATERNOSTER SQUARE . NEW YORK: G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS. 1898 ....

In this little work I have aimed to write, not a history or a biography, not a criticism or a eulogy, but merely to give a few scattered notes, gathered from many quarters, for the general public, rather than for the professional politician.  Lord Rosebery is reported to have said that it will require many writers to give a complete biography of Mr. Gladstone.  He may be right; but the evil of it will be, the work, if exhaustive, will be exhausting.  Especially will it be so in these busy times,

Many, many years ago England’s foremost statesman, as George Canning then was, distrusted by the multitude, feared by his colleagues, regarded with suspicion by the First Gentleman of the Age—as it was the fashion to term George the Magnificent, who was then seated on the British throne—wearied of the strife and turmoil of party, spent a short time at Seaforth House, bidding what he deemed his farewell to his Liverpool correspondents.  His custom, we are told, was to sit for hours gazing on the

After spending six months with private tutors, in October, 1828, he went up to Christ Church, Oxford, and the following year was nominated to a studentship.  ‘As for Gladstone,’ writes Sir Francis Doyle, ‘in the earlier part of his undergraduateship he read steadily, and did not exert himself to shine as a speaker; in point of fact, he did not attempt to distinguish himself in the Debating Society till he had pretty well made sure of his distinction in the Schools.  I used often to walk with him

In 1832 Mr. Gladstone left Oxford, and after spending six months in Italy, he was recalled to England to become Member for Newark.  In his address he declared that the duties of governors are strictly and peculiarly religious, and that legislators, like individuals, are bound to carry throughout their acts the spirit of the high truths they have acknowledged.  Much required to be done for popular education, and labour should receive adequate remuneration.  He regarded slavery as sanctioned by Ho

In 1845 the Whigs, failing to form a Cabinet, resigned, and Sir Robert Peel was again in office to carry the abolition of the Corn Laws.  After resigning office, Mr. Gladstone published a pamphlet on ‘Recent Commercial Legislation,’ the tendency of which was in favour of the conclusion that all materials of industry should, as far as possible, be set free from Custom duties.  When Lord Stanley refused to accompany his chief in the achievement of Free Trade in corn, Mr. Gladstone became, in his p

In April, 1856, Mr. Greville writes of a conversation he had with Graham: ‘He began talking over the state of affairs generally.  He says there is not one man in the House of Commons who has ten followers—neither Gladstone, nor Disraeli, nor Palmerston . . . that Gladstone is certainly the ablest man there.  His religious opinions, in which he is zealous and sincere, enter so largely into his political conduct as to form a very serious obstacle to his success, for they are abhorrent to the major

In 1857 there occurred a memorable passage of arms between Mr. Gladstone and Sir Richard Bethell—afterwards Lord Westbury—on the subject of divorce.  More than one Commission had reported in favour of establishing a separate court, so that the dissolution of marriage might be effected by judicial separation instead of a special Act of Parliament.  By this change the expense incident to the existing procedure would be materially reduced, and the remedy which lay within the reach of the wealthy wo

When Parliament met in 1859, an amendment was moved to the Address in a maiden speech from Lord Hartington, which was carried after a three nights’ debate, Mr. Gladstone voting with the Government.  Lord Derby and his colleagues instantly resigned.  A new Government was formed—Lord Palmerston Premier, Lord John Russell leader of the House of Commons, with Mr. Gladstone as Chancellor of the Exchequer.  A spirited opposition to Mr. Gladstone’s re-election for the University took place.  Lord Chand

In the General Election for 1865 Mr. Gladstone lost his seat for the University of Oxford.  For years it was evident that his advancing views were gradually drifting him from the Oxford constituents, and when an Act was passed to enable country clergymen and non-resident M.A.’s—by means of voting papers—to swamp the real Oxford constituency, Mr. Gladstone’s seat was gone, and his opponent, Mr. Hardy, triumphed.  The battle was bravely fought, and the blow was severely felt by Mr. Gladstone and h

During the Educational debates Mr. Miall said that the Premier had ‘led one section of the Liberal party through the valley of humiliation; but once bit, twice shy, and we can’t stand this sort of thing much longer.’  Mr. Gladstone sharply replied: ‘I hope that my hon. friend will not continue his support of the Government one moment longer than he deems it consistent with his sense of duty and right.  For God’s sake, sir, let him withdraw it the moment he thinks it better for the cause he has a

When Mr. Gladstone returned to power, Mr. Forster was appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, with Lord Cowper as Viceroy.  There was great distress—as there generally is in Ireland—and exceptional efforts had been made, both by the Government and the people of this country, to meet it.  A benevolent fund had been raised, chiefly through the influence of the Duchess of Marlborough, wife of the Lord-Lieutenant, and a Distress Relief Act had been carried by Parliament to empower the application of

About this time Home Rule began seriously to be talked about.  It was even hinted that Mr. Gladstone was about to bring in a measure on the subject.  In some quarters it was hinted the Conservatives would outbid him in their eagerness to obtain Irish support.  Men who belonged to no party could not bring themselves to regard any measure of Home Rule seriously, especially when they saw how by means of it Irish M.P.’s had gained a popularity and a position which otherwise they would never have hop

In 1892 appeared part of what was to be a ten-volume edition of Mr. Gladstone’s speeches, edited by Mr. William Hutton, librarian, National Liberal Club, and R. J. Cowen, of the Inner Temple, barrister-at-law.  The work is a labour of love on the part of the two editors, and Mr. Gladstone himself contributes a modest preface.  He has seen such passages as seemed to require revision, and he testifies to their correctness.  In some instances the editors have made verbal amendments where it was app

When George III. was King, two of his servants, as retired Ministers, met one another at Bath.  Said one of them, Lord Mendip, to the other, Lord Camden, ‘I hope you are well and in the enjoyment of a happy old age.’  Lord Camden replied in a querulous tone: ‘Happy!  How can a man be happy who has survived all his passions and enjoyments?’  ‘Oh, my dear lord,’ was the reply of his old antagonist, ‘do not talk so; while God is pleased to enable me to read my Homer and my Bible, I cannot but be th

No one has been the subject of so much small talk as Mr. Gladstone.  He has been a fortune to the men who think it creditable to write gossip and twaddle for newspapers in London or the provinces.  In 1881 all England was interested, or supposed to be so, in the tale of his hat.  A writer says: ‘The House of Commons has not had such a laugh for years as it had to-day over Mr. Gladstone and his hat.  Mr. Gladstone is singular among members in never bringing a hat into the assembly.  He would not

‘Hawarden, ‘ July 2, 1886. ‘ My dear Bright , ‘I am sorry to be compelled again to address you.  In your speech you charge me with having successfully concealed my thoughts last November.  You ought to have known that this was not the fact, for in reply to others, from whom this gross charge was more to be expected than from you, I pointed out last week that on the 9th November, in Edinburgh, I told my constituents that if the Irish elections went as was expected, the magnitude of the subject th

In 1853 Lord Blachford wrote, just after Mr. Gladstone had unfolded his famous Budget which took off newspapers the additional stamp required for supplements, and imposed a single stamp of a penny for every newspaper of whatever sort: ‘If Gladstone has anything Conservative in him, he will find it difficult to remain in a Ministry which must eventually be thrown upon Radical support.  But he is really so powerful a man that, whatever shakes and delays and loss of time there may be, he must come

Hawarden Park, in the centre of which stands Hawarden Castle, is one of the finest country seats in the three kingdoms.  Visitors who arrive at Hawarden for the first time are surprised at the extent of the grounds and the beauty of the park.  Hawarden Park, with Hawarden Castle, came to Mr. Gladstone with his wife.  When Mr. Gladstone married he had no intention of making his seat in Wales, but finding that Sir Stephen Glynne was in circumstances which rendered it disadvantageous to the family

Just Published .  One Vol. , crown 8 vo. , price 6 s. CRYING FOR THE LIGHT; Or, Fifty Years Ago. By J. EWING RITCHIE (CHRISTOPHER CRAYON). NOTICES OF THE PRESS . ‘On the pressing social problems of the day he has much to say that is well worth listening to.  There is a force of characterization in Mr. Ritchie’s sketches and a passion for human sympathy pervading his whole work.’— New Age . ‘A thoroughly interesting romance.’— Publishers’ Circular . ‘There is much that is interesting, and may be