nd his chief. Mr. Disraeli brought forward a motion (Feb.
19, 1850) of a very familiar kind, on the distress of the agricultural
classes and the insecurity of relief of rural burdens. Bright bluntly
denied that there was a case in which the fee of land had been
depreciated or rent been permanently lowered. Graham said the mover's
policy was simply a transfer of the entire poor rate to the consolidated
fund, violating the principles of local control and inviting prodigal
expenditure. Fortune then, in Mr. Disraeli's own language, sent him an
unexpected champion, by whom, according to him, Graham was fairly
unhorsed. The reader will hardly think so, for though the unexpected
champion was Mr. Gladstone, he found no better reason for supporting the
motion, than that its adoption would weaken the case for restoring
protection. As if the landlords and farmers were likely to be satisfied
with a small admission of a great claim, while all the rest of their
claim was to be as bitterly contested as ever; with the transfer of a
shabby couple of millions from their own shoulders to the consolidated
fund, when they were clamouring that fourteen millions would hardly be
enough. Peel rose later, promptly took this plain point against his
ingenious lieutenant, and then proceeded to one more of his elaborate
defences, both of free trade and of his own motives and character. For
the last time, as it was to happen, Peel declared that for Mr. Gladstone
he had 'the greatest respect and admiration.' 'I was associated with him
in the preparation and conduct of those measures, to the desire of
maintaining which he partly attributes the conclusion at which he has
arrived. I derived from him the most zealous, the most effective
assistance, and it is no small consolation to me to hear from him,
although in this particular motion we arrive at different conclusions,
that his confidence in the justice of those principles for which we in
common contended remains entirely unshaken.'[211]

ON HIS POSITION

On this particular battle, as well as on more general matter, a letter
from Mr. Gladstone to his wife (Feb. 22,1850) sheds some light:--:

_To Mrs. Gladstone._

Indeed you do rise to very daring flights to-day, and suggest many
things that flow from your own deep affection which, perhaps,
disguises from you some things that are nevertheless real. I cannot
form to myself any oth