THE MODEL MEMBER OF THE TORY PARTY.
IN making his unstudied vindication before the House of Com- mons on i'Vednesday, Mr. Hudson stated some truths and imper- sonated other truths. There were indeed passages in his oration which will puzzle the future commentator more perhaps than any passage in Cicero or even in Dante. His allusion to the Times will in future be valuable as a piece of contemporary criticism. "It is unfortunate for that paper generally in its charges against myself," he says, "to have made charges of acts which were either totally untrue, or, if not untrue, which were of a character to admit of a very different construction, and which to the last day of my life I shall be proud of and happy to avow." Mr. Hudson admits that by the decision of " that tribunal" he is " called on to disgorge "; but he suggests a difficulty, for " neither that nor any tribunal will venture to say, I am called to disgorge what to a great extent I never received." He challenges Members to fix upon him any charge ; offering a facility : for he says, "I invite the honourable Member—I have no objection, if the House thinks right—to take me from my cradle and follow me to this day." We have heard of persons being sometimes transferred bodily to the middle of nest week ; but it is difficult to "realize," as the Yankees say, the process of taking an elderly gentleman from'his cradle, and, with that grown child in arms, to "follow" the said grown child to a particular day. However, it is true that Mr. Hudson has " known what it is to live in popularity and favour"—known what it is to face ad- versity—and again known what it is to see prosperity returning, and with it society. Such is life 1 It is amongst his injuries " to have had forced upon. him property since proved to be worth 100,0001."; and there is, he says, scarcely a work which he pro- jected " when in the plenitude of power " which he has not lived to see carried out. From his vituperators he appeals to pos- terity; and the appeal will probably be successful. George Hud- son—such are the turns in the market—may die a wealthy man; his name is asaociated with works of improvement, and posterity may see it inscribed in stone and brass. Many of his critics can- not say as much for'
or themselves.
But he might have appealed to yet higher associations. If he has figured in society, has he not also figured in the Senate ; has he not been a " distinguished" member of a distinguished party ? Yes, the Hudson who vindicated himself on Wednesday is one of that party which has had recently to be profuse in vindications. Does not his very name carry us back to the heyday of that power in the state, under that statesman who was transferred from the lead of the turf to the lead of the Commons ; who conceived the great idea that railways would be useful to Ireland; and who, although no longer in the House, is still cited as the great author- ity ? The other leader of the party has been that dashing Earl, " the Rupert of debate," who attacked the education in Ireland which his own Cabinet upheld; who sneered at his own Chancellor of the Exchequer ; end who, reduced to his last shifts in opposing the Government that succeeded him, has nothing left but to threaten it with his support. The present leader in the Commons is " an individual " who wrote the life of the turf magnate that aspired to save society in England by Irish railways. Other as- sociates were, that Secretary .of the Admiralty who was so un- timely interrupted while he was endeavouring " to place the Executive in harmony with the Commons"; that " W. 13." who was interrupted at Derby while trying to place the Commons in harmony with the constituencies; that Lord of the Admiralty who left matters to his Secretary, and walked down Pall Mall with Commodore Seymour, hoping that the Admiral would declare his sentiments, but unable even to ask a question. In that great Party, with these magnates, Mr. Hudson figured as the " inde- pendent" Member—the Amphytrion who got up the reunions, and did his best " to make things pleasant." But prosperity is returning ; Mr. Hudson has had property forced upon him worth 100,0001., to say nothing of improved " quotations" elsewhere. With prosperity comes popularity, position, reunions; he may still make things pleasant, and once more be the great independent Member of the party that acknowledges " an individual" for its leader.
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