with abundant and untaxed food, the sweeter because it is no longer leavened by a sense of injustice. "* No one, I think, can doubt that on the first occasion, the justice and expediency of removing Roman Catholic disabilities—on the second, the justice and expediency of repealing the Corn Laws, had fully penetrated his clear and sagacious mind. To give effect to his convictions, he forfeited the confidence of that party which had nurtured his talents, and adopted him as its chosen child and champion. In this sense 'Fuit in parentem Splendide mendax' But he had another parent, of stronger affinity and paramount claims: his country, her welfare, her safety, had a right to his filial duty, and for her sake he twice made a sacrifice for which he deserves her perpetual and grateful commemoration. But, having made the sacrifice of opinions deeply rooted, and party ties warmly cherished, no one can doubt, I think, that he did right when, on the first occasion on which the want of confidence displayed itself, he surrendered office. To have relied on old opponents to support him in measures which, in 1831, must have been measures of Parliamentary reform, and, in 1846, measures for the abolition of the differential sugar duties and the repeal of the Navigation Laws, would have been a weak and unworthy course. A resignation of power was the only fit consummation of a career which could not otherwise have been unquestioned in its motives, or, indeed, have borne peace to his own bosom.† But Sir Robert Peel was to me only a public man. *Parliamentary Debates, vol. lxxxix. p. 1054. † See Note L. by me must be ever loved, ever honoured, ever mourned:- Lord Holland, the inheritor of Mr. Fox's principles, the attached friend of Lord Grey; Lord Lansdowne, the temperate and wise promoter of every liberal reform; Lord Althorp, the honestest, the most disinterested of statesmen. Holland, Lansdowne, Althorp, Melbourne, Carlisle, have been friends by the side of whom I have contended on some of the gravest affairs involving the fate of a nation, with whom I have lived and conversed in hours of the most familiar society, and on all occasions, public or private, grave or gay, with entire confidence, with mutual trust, without a drop of the gall of envy or of jealousy. To their eminent, to their happy and amiable qualities, I should like to have given a full and grateful testimony. But I must refrain: it is the object of this Chapter to point out that Earl Grey, with the generation of statesmen who have guided the nation since the close of the great war,-whose task it has been to heal its wounds, and bring plenty to be the companion of peace,-have not deserved ill of their country. NOTES. NOTE (A). PAGE 23. 'FOR their images, some of them were brought to London, and were there at St. Paul's Cross, in the sight of all the people, broken; that they might be fully convinced of the juggling impostures of the monks. And in particular, the crucifix of Boxley, in Kent, commonly called the Rood of Grace, to which many pilgrimages had been made; because it was observed sometimes to bow, and to lift itself up, to shake and to stir head, hands, and feet, to roll the eyes, move the lips, and bend the brows; all which were looked on by the abused multitude, as the effects of a divine power. These were now publicly discovered to have been cheats. For the springs were showed by which all these motions were made. Upon which, John Hilsey, then Bishop of Rochester, made a sermon, and broke the rood in pieces. There was also another famous imposture discovered at Hailes, in Gloucestershire; where the blood of Christ was showed in a vial of crystal, which the people sometimes saw, but sometimes they could not see it: so they were made believe, that they were not capable of so signal a favour as long as they were in mortal sin; and so they continued to make presents, till they bribed Heaven to give them the sight of so blessed a relic. This was now discovered to have been the blood of a duck, which they renewed every week: and the one side of the vial was so very thick, that there was no seeing through it, but the other was clear and transparent: and it was so placed near the altar, that one in a secret place behind could turn either side of it outward. So when they had drained the pilgrims that came thither of all they had brought with them, then they afforded them the favour of turning the clear side outward: who upon that went home very well satisfied with their journey, and the expense they had been at. There was brought out of Wales a huge image of wood, called Darvel Gatheren, of which one Ellis Price, visitor of the diocese of St. Asaph, gave this account: On the 6th of April 1537, "That the people of the country had a great superstition for it, and many pilgrimages were made to it: so that, the day before he wrote, there were reckoned to be above five or six hundred pilgrims there: some brought oxen and cattle, and some brought money; and it was generally believed, that if any offered to that image, he had power to deliver his soul from hell.” So it was ordered to be brought to London, where it served for fuel to burn Friar Forrest. There was an huge image of Our Lady at Worcester, that was had in great reverence; which, when it was stripped of some veils that covered it, was found to be the statue of a bishop.'Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. i. p. 242. 'But the richest shrine in England was that of Thomas Beckett, called St. Thomas of Canterbury the Martyr. For three hundred years he was accounted one of the greatest saints in heaven, as may appear from the accounts in the Ledger-books, of the offerings made to the three greatest altars in Christ's Church, Canterbury. The one was to Christ, the other to the Virgin, and the third to St. Thomas. In one year there was offered at Christ's altar £3. 2s. 6d. ; to the Virgin's altar, £63. 58. 6d.; but to St. Thomas's altars, £832. 12s. 3d. But the next year the odds grew greater: for there was not a penny offered at Christ's altar, and at the Virgin's only £4. 18. 8d. ; but at St. Thomas's, £954. 6s. 3d. By such offerings, it came that his shrine was of inestimable value. There was one stone offered there by Louis VII. of France, who came over to visit it in a pilgrimage, that was believed the richest in Europe.'-Burnet's History of the Reformation, vol. i. p. 244. NOTE (B). PAGE 28. The following speech of Secretary Cecil, on monopolies, is altogether characteristic of the reign of Elizabeth: Mr. Secretary Cecil stood up, and said, 'There needs no supply of the memory of the Speaker; but, because it pleased him to desire some that be about him to aid his delivery, and because the rest of my fellows be silent, I will take upon me to deliver something which I both then heard and since know. I was present with the rest of my fellow-councillors, and the message was the same that hath been told you; and the cause hath not succeeded from any particular course thought upon, but from private informations of some particular persons. I have been very inquisitive of them, and of the cause why more importunity was now used than afore; which, I am afraid, comes by being acquainted with some course of proceeding in this House. There are no patents now of force which shall not presently be revoked; for what patent soever is granted, there shall be left to the overthrow of that patent a liberty agreeable to the law. There is no patent if it be malum in se, but the Queen was ill apprised in her grant. But all to the generality be unacceptable, I take it, there is no patent whereof the execution has not been injurious. Would that they had never been granted! I hope there shall never be more. (All the House said, Amen.) In particular, most of these patents have been supported by letters of assistance from Her Majesty's Privy Council: but whosoever looks upon them shall find, that they carry no other style than with relation to the patent. I dare assure you, from henceforth there shall be no more granted. They shall all be revoked. But to whom do they repair with these letters? To some outhouse, to some desolate widow, to some simple cottage, or poor ignorant people, who rather than they would be troubled, and undo themselves by coming up hither, will give anything in reason for these caterpillars' satisfaction. The notice of this is now public, and you will perhaps judge this to be a tale to serve the time. But I would have all men to know thus much, that it is no jesting with a court of Parliament, neither dares any man (for my own part I dare not) so mock and abuse all the states of this kingdom, in a matter of this consequence and importance. I say, therefore, there shall be a proclamation general throughout the realm, to notify Her Majesty's resolution in this behalf. And because you may eat your meat more savoury than you |