the debate, as he was to take the
other side. Then there was an amusing scene between him and Peel.
Both rose and stood in competition for the Speaker's eye. The
Speaker had seen Graham first, and he got it. But when he was
speaking I felt I had no choice but to follow him. He made so very
able a speech that this was no pleasant prospect; but I acquired the
courage that proceeds from fear, according to a line from Ariosto:
_Chi per virtu, chi per paura vale_ [one from valour, another from
fear, is strong], and made my plunge when he sat down. But the
Speaker was not dreaming of me, and called a certain Mr. Scott who
had risen at the same time. Upon this I sat down again, and there
was a great uproar because the House always anticipating more or
less interest when men speak on opposite sides and in succession,
who are usually together, called for me. So I was up again, and the
Speaker deserted Scott and called me, and I had to make the best I
could after Graham. That is the end of the story, for there is
nothing else worth saying. It was at the dinner hour from 7 to
73/4, and then I went home for a little quiet. Peel again replied
upon me, but I did not hear that part of him; and Disraeli showed
the marvellous talent that he has, for summing up with brilliancy,
buoyancy, and comprehensiveness at the close of a debate. You have
heard me speak of that talent before when I have been wholly against
him; but never, last night or at any other time, would I go to him
for conviction, but for the delight of the ear and the fancy. What a
long story!

PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL

During the parliament that sat from 1847 to 1852, Mr. Gladstone's
political life was in partial abeyance. The whole burden of conducting
the affairs of the Hawarden estate fell upon him. For five years, he
said, 'it constituted my daily and continuing care, while parliamentary
action was only occasional. It supplied in fact my education for the
office of finance minister.' The demands of church matters were anxious
and at times absorbing. He warmly favoured and spoke copiously for the
repeal of the navigation laws. He desired, however, to accept a recent
overture from America which offered everything, even their vast coasting
trade, upon a footing of absolute reciprocity. 'I gave notice,' he says,
'of a motion to that effect. But the government