choice of his house for a meeting of the party on the 30th of
March. As it happened, this was the very day on which he and the
Duchess returned to London; but nevertheless the meeting was held
there, and he was present at it. Mr. Gresham then repeated his
reasons for opposing Mr. Daubeny's bill; and declared that even while
doing so he would, with the approbation of his party, pledge himself
to bring in a bill somewhat to the same effect, should he ever again
find himself in power. And he declared that he would do this solely
with the view of showing how strong was his opinion that such a
measure should not be left in the hands of the Conservative party. It
was doubted whether such a political proposition had ever before been
made in England. It was a simple avowal that on this occasion men
were to be regarded, and not measures. No doubt such is the case, and
ever has been the case, with the majority of active politicians. The
double pleasure of pulling down an opponent, and of raising oneself,
is the charm of a politician's life. And by practice this becomes
extended to so many branches, that the delights,--and also the
disappointments,--are very widespread. Great satisfaction is felt
by us because by some lucky conjunction of affairs our man, whom we
never saw, is made Lord-Lieutenant of a county, instead of another
man, of whom we know as little. It is a great thing to us that Sir
Samuel Bobwig, an excellent Liberal, is seated high on the bench of
justice, instead of that time-serving Conservative, Sir Alexander
McSilk. Men and not measures are, no doubt, the very life of
politics. But then it is not the fashion to say so in public places.
Mr. Gresham was determined to introduce that fashion on the present
occasion. He did not think very much of Mr. Daubeny's Bill. So
he told his friends at the Duke's house. The Bill was full of
faults,--went too far in one direction, and not far enough in
another. It was not difficult to pick holes in the Bill. But the sin
of sins consisted in this,--that it was to be passed, if passed at
all, by the aid of men who would sin against their consciences by
each vote they gave in its favour. What but treachery could be
expected from an army in which every officer, and every private, was
called upon to fight against his convictions? The meeting passed off
with dissension, and it was agreed that the House of Commons should
be called upon to reject the Church Bill simply because it was
pr