Confirmation rather than news is also the characteristic of the
political reports at home. Whether it is Lord Aberdeen ap- pearing before the burgesses of his own town to acknowledge their compliments, or Lord Granville dining with the Staffordshire yeo- manry, we have the same story. Lord Aberdeen repeats the ex- planation of his sentiments in regard to energetic war as the surest method of securing prompt and lasting peace ; and he points with satisfaction to an army sent to the East " such as
the Duke of Wellington never commanded " ; while Lord Gran- ville tells us that he should be regarded as a Munchausen if he were to enumerate all the equipments and the amount of ammu- nition which has accompanied that army : the ammunition is enough in quantity " to wear out the 102 guns "! The nearest approach to news is of the nature of a prophecy ra- ther than a narrative. The Conservative Association of North Es- sex has been dining at Castle Hedingham, and by the explanations there made from ex-Ministers or gentlemen locally distinguished, we arrive at some better understanding of Mr. Disraeli's purposes in raising the " Protestant " banner. Disraeli had already hinted at his standard-bearing purposes to certain Irish friends, and to the Protestant Association of Blackburn ; but the revelation of Mr. Peacocke at Castle Hedingham concentrated these signs into the distinct statement, that a Ministry supported by "the nominees of the Pope " is to be driven into resignation next session —making room for Disraeli and " Reform," Derby and "Progress."
Meanwhile, "the talented leader" of the Protestant party— which appears to be something distinct from the English people— is casting aboat for a following ; and the latest accounts of his movements represent bim in the attitude of negotiating with the Licensed Victuallers. The negotiation is conducted with his own peculiar talent : he raises the beer-selling hopes of his possible allies, by promising "serious consideration" of their case, but he reserves to himself his usual opportunity to escape from the al- liance—keeps open, as it were, the way of retreat through the back-door of the public-house.
Previous page
