BOOKS.

BENJAMIN DISRAELI, A LITERARY AND POLITICAL BIOGRAPHY.*

THE author of Benjamin Disraeli, a Biography, has too closely imitated the tedious longwindedness and frequent digressions of his prototype, Lord George Bentinck. He has also himself a turn for prosiness, and a tendency to dwell upon matters of no moment while he but cursorily touches upon main points : spinning out, for instance, heavy remarks upon the Hebrew, Caucasian, and Yew-qualification questions, while he passes succinctly over the career of Mr. Disraeli as Finance Minister and pro tem. leader in the House of Commons. Moreover, the volume is deficient in those traits of personal character which with all its tumid verbosity distinguished Lord George Bentinck, as well as in that knowledge of motives and that unconscious exposure of them which enabled the reader to see that the course of the Protectionists had no better origin than personal malignity. The volume before us, however, does this—it presents a full and continuous view of the public career and character of Mr. Benjamin Disraeli, from his first appearance as editor of that costly failure the Repre- sentative newspaper, and the equivocal success of Vivian Grey, until he burst into obvious notoriety as an unscrupulous assailant of Peel, grew distinguished as a leader of the Conservative party, and finally reached the object of his ambition, merely to show that he could not retain it. This review is done fairly ; its very ful- ness enabling the reader to form his own opinion of each book, in- cident, or remarkable speech of Mr. Disraeli, from the facts or quo- tations submitted to him. The moral conclusions of the writer are also just enough ; though they would have gained by greater terseness of expression.

"Qualls ab incept° " might be Disraeli's motto. He was at starting in life the same man as when he bayed at Sir Robert Peel, or coolly threw overboard the wiseacres who were weak, and it must be said degenerate enough, to follow a man whose whole career had been a palpable succession of unscrupulous self-seeking and unblushing tergiversation. There is probably something in the Arab savageism of Disraeli's nature which prevents him from acquiring a mastery of practical affairs; but his presumption was greater when he undertook to manage the Representative than when he pledged himself to revise our financial system : for at his years in the earlier venture, it was impossible that he could have the knowledge and the observation on affairs which are essential to the editor of a great daily organ, whereas before he became Chancellor of the Exchequer, he had both time and opportunity to study our taxation : yet the failure was not more total in the first case than the last.„ In Vivian Grey he shadowed forth the theoretical notion of success in public life which he tried to carry out in practice some quarter of a century later. Vivian loquitur- " 'Mankind, then, is my great game. At this moment how many a power- ful noble wants only wit to be a Minister ; and what wants Vivian Grey to attain the same end ? That noble's influence. When two persons can so materially assist each other, why are they not brought together ? Shall I, because ray birth baulks my fancy, shall I pass my life a moping misanthrope in an old chateau? Supposing I am in contact with this magnifico, am I prepared ? Now let me probe my very soul. Does my cheek blench ? I have the mind for the conception; and I can perform right skilfully upon the most splendid of musical instruments, the human voice, to make these concep- tions believed by others. There wants but one thing more—courage, pure, perfect courage : and does Vivian Grey know fear? ' Be laughed an answer of bitterest derision."

In this first novel, too, there was the same disregard of the decent retenue which distinguishes gentlemen, and it may be said Englishmen generally. The author not only thrust himself upon the public in the character of his hero, as afterwards in Sidonia, but displayed an equal disregard of conventional morals by ex- hibiting real persons in the guise of fictitious characters to gratify malignity, or make money. His attempts upon High Wycombe under the patronage of O'Connell and Joseph Hume, his address to Marylebone on principles something more than Radical, and his subsequent contest of Taunton against the Whig candidate, on Tory grounds, were just the same thing as when in office he proved to the wondering West Indians that they were better off without protection, or when he voted for " the principle of unre- stricted competition." His publications about " Estates," and "Bolingbroke," and a "Venetian Doge" and the "English Con- stitution," were much weaker in style, but not more silly in sub- stance, than the schemes for regenerating the world or the Tones which he put forth in later fictions. Beyond some more know- ledge of actual life, which is turned to account in his novels, the only thing in which Disraeli has really advanced is in diction. Coningsby and Sybil exhibit a vast improvement over the cox- combical pictures of Vivian arey or the turgid fustian of filroy • The Right Honourable Benjamin Disraeli, M.P.; a Literary and Political Biography. Addressed to the New Generation. Published by Bentley. just as the flowers of Billingsgate which he scattered on O'Con- nell, the Globe, and others, when he lucubrated letters to the Times, were poor and washy compared with his condensed and pointed declamation against Peel. Some later displays, as well in writing as in speaking, seem to show that the improvement is artificial, and requires labour and stimulants to maintain it.

This summary retrospect is not complimentary to the cha- racter of Disraeli ; but, sad as it is to have to say it, success with many is the sole touchstone. In a certain sense Disraeli's success has been great ; for he has worked his way to a con- spicuous position, and for a short time to an eminent post. A cer- tain species of success, however, is always attainable, by those who choose to take the risk and the discredit. A man's life is generally in the power of his enemy, if that enemy will incur the guilt of felony and the chances of the gallows. The trader who defies bankruptcy may do a roaring business while he stands. The man of small means can fare sumptuously as long as his capital and credit last. The fellow who "will poke his nose in anywhere" may often secure a meal or a " treat," because the delicacy of others is greater than his own. Of course certain qualities are necessary even to this sort of suc- cess. A man must have good nerves, what is now called "auda- city," an easy conscience, or more properly a want of perception touching right and wrong, and a hardened indifference to estima- tion or consequences. There must also be pertinacity, with ac- tivity, vigour, or determination ; something, in fact, analogous to energy—or, as energy is not a moral quality, energy itself.

The sort of successjust indicated is that of Mr. Disraeli ; and the lesson it points is that of confidence and pertinacity. Not one of his works succeeded in consequence of its real merits ; attention was attracted by some arts or some quality the reverse of re- putable. Disraeli rose to public notoriety, not by any party con- victions of his own which inspired confidence in others, not even by any steady adherence to a cause as a pretext, but by loud-tongued promises of anything to anybody, by blackguard abuse of oppo- nents, and by such vulgar proceedings as challenging Morgan O'Connell to fight a duel because O'Connell the father had replied to some of Disraeli's Billingsgate by more effective Billingsgate of his own. He failed in Parliament at the outset, and for some time he was barely tolerated. He became conspicuous, not by acquiring any peculiar knowledge, or by honestly representing any hopeful opinion, but by ministering to the malignity of other men while he gratified his own. He finally failed when all he had striven for was in his grasp, because he had neither conviction, nor morality, nor knowledge of affairs, nor principle of action. Still the merit of rising cannot be denied him, and his position as leader of the Pro- tectionists was a wonderful thing.

"The art of our necessities is strange That can make vile things precious."

The necessity must have indeed been dire that induced a section of the peers and the gentlemen of England to follow an adventurer without character or experience, or the capacity to form even a theoretical plan, and whose " antecedents " were anything but recommendatory. However, the end proves the man, and the end of Disraeli is yet to come.

Although the author of the volume before us appears to have no personal knowledge of Mr. Disraeli, he has folluwed his public life-and perused his works with steady attention. He also seems to have witnessed some of his displays, or to have had an original account of them. The following extract is a picture of the char- latan's first appearance in the House of Commons, with some re- marks on his style.

"On the 7th of December, [18371 the adjourned debate on the Irish Elec- tion Petitions was resumed. O'Connell had just delivered one of his most thrilling speeches, and laid Sir Francis Burdett prostrate in the dust ; the House of Commons was in a state of the greatest excitement, when a singu- lar figure, looking as pale as death, with eyes fixed upon the ground, and ringlets clustering round his brow, asked the indulgence which was usually granted to those who spoke for the tirst time, and of which he would show himself worthy by promising not to abuse it. He then singled out O'Connell; who, he said, while taunting an honourable baronet with making a long, rambling, and jumbling speech, had evidently taken a hint from his oppo- nent, and introduced every Irish question into his rhetorical medley. Two or three taunts were also directed at the Whigs ; who bad made certain in- timations at clubs and elsewhere, about the time when the bell of our cathedral announced the death of our monarch.' Then followed some of Mr. Dismelis daring assertions ; which were received with shouts of laughter, and loud cries of ' Oh! oh from the Ministerial benches. An allusion to 'men of moderate opinions, and of a temperate tone of mind,' produced still more laughter; for it was considered that such a character was the very opposite of the individual who was addressing them. He entreated them to give him five minutes' hearing ; only five minutes ; it was not much. The House then became indulgent; but soon the shouts of laughter again burst forth, as Mr. Disraeli went on to say, that he stood there not formally, but virtually, as the representative of a considerable number of Members of Parlt..ment. 'Then why laugh ?' he asked ; why not let me enjoy this distinction at least for one night ? ' It appeared that he considered himself the representa- tive of the new Members. When, however, he spoke of the disagiyement between 'the noble Tityrus of the Treasury Bench and the Daphne of Lis- keard,' declared that it was evident that this quarrel between the lovers

would only be the renewal of love, and alluded to Lord John Russell as waving the keys of St. Peter in his hand, the voice of the ambitious orator was drowned in convulsions of merriment. 'Now, Mr. Speaker, see the philoso- phical prejudice of man !' he ejaculated, with despair; and again the laugh-

ter was renewed. would certainly gladly,' said Mr. Disraeli, most pathe- tically, ' hear a cheer, even though it came from the lips of a political oppo- nent. No cheer, however, followed; and he then added—' I am not at all surprised at the reception I have experienced. I have begun several times many things, and I have often succeeded at last. I will sit down now, but the time will come when you will listen to me !' He sat down : Lord Stan- ley, on the part of the Opposition, resumed the debate, and.replied to O'Con- nel ; for it was thought that Mr. Disraeli's speech had been a complete fail- ure, and that O'Connell's address had not been answered. The ghost of the Caucasian Cansar had really appeared at Philippi, and been scared away by the jeers of the boisterous adherents of the Milesian Brutus.

"More than one explanation of the failure of this maiden speech has been given. The critic who in general has been most favourable to the accom- plished master of sarcasm believes that this first speech was delivered in the bombastic style of Alroy,' and that the orator's failure was inevitable. This attempt to account for his temporary defeat will only be satisfactory to those who believe that there was a wonderful change in Mr. Disraeli% mental habits and style in future years. Now there was nothing so remarkably bom- bastic in this first address; and it can be easily shown that even in Mr. Dis- raeli's most successful efforts, there is overstrained language, which, even when the orator's abilities were fully admitted, provoked the laughter of the House of Commons. Some other explanation is necessary, and it lies on the surface.

"Mr. Disraeli's individual appearance and style of speaking are peculiar. His art lies in taking his audience by surprise, and in delivering his most successful points as impromptus. This, of course, may be done effectuallY when the speaker has a command over his hearers, and his intellectual as- cendancy is allowed; but every orator has, more or less, to prepare his audi- ence for the reception of his speeches, and until this can be done, it is not easy to make a very successful oratorical effort. Mr. Disraeli has so much of mannerism, that it was not to be expected he could please at his first appear- ance. Besides, it was in the memory of everybody that he had made a proud boast of seizing the first opportunity of crushing one of the most formidable public men of the time ; and, with all his early follies thus prominently be- fore the world, and in presence of many of his great antagonist's friends, alone, and unsupported even by those who agreed with him in opinion, the powers of Demosthenes would have been unequal to such an occasion.

" Mr. Disraeli failed simply because the House of Commons would not listen to him ; nor was it prepared to endure from a young Member a ha- rangue full of personalities, though these personalities appear to have been quite as good as many which have been delivered since by the same man to an attentive audience, and received with loud applause. As it ever happens, much that is admired in an established reputation appears contemptible in struggling merit. Mr. Disraeli has taken many liberties with the. House, and has been applauded for them in later years; but because he ventured to do so in his first speech he was laughed at and coughed down."

There is a close and curious examination of the immediate matter which led to Disraeli's first open assault upon Peel. But instead of that bit of minute investigation, we will take for another ex- tract, Lord Palmerston's reply to Disraeli when the adventurer thought to curry favour with the Minister of the day by attacking the late Foreign Secretary out of office. The occasion was a mo- tion to unite the diplomatic and consular services, which Peel oppcaed.

" At length Lord Palmerston rose. Mr. Disraeli's motion, said the noble Lord, with his usual keenness and readiness, was ostensibly aimed at a change in public establishments, but was really an attack on the course taken by him when he held the office of Secretary of State for Foreign Af- fairs. He agreed with Sir Robert Peel, that Mr. Disraeli had laid down no grounds whatever for adopting such a proposition. He had never heard a speech so little supported by assertion, far less by proof, as that which the Member for Shrewsbury had delivered. The honourable gentleman had told the House, that for a length of time his mind had been steadily Seed upon Gazette after Gazette, and that his whole attention had been directed to the appointment of consuls. The information to be derived from news- papers might be very extensive, but the study of gazettes could not be equally, profitable for enlarging. the mind and improving the understanding. If the honourable gentleman, instead of having so sedulously watched the appointments of consuls as they appeared in the Gazette, had taken the trouble of collecting proper materials for throwing a light upon the subject, and had studied the writers on the law of nations, he might possibly, with the talent and ingenuity he possessed, have furnished himself with better grounds for arriving at a full understanding of the subject. But, in fact, the proposition was merely made in order to enable the honourable gentle- man to enter upon a detailed criticism of Lord Palmenium's appointments. It was quite true, as Sir Robert Peel had said, that every man thought him- self capable of being a good consul. But Mr. Disraeli s proposition only showed how little he understood the elementary principles of the duties of consuls. The duties of a consul differed in every respect from the duties of a diplomatist. A consul had to look after the vessels coming into the port where he resided. He had to settle the disputes between tile masters of ships and their crew, and to listen to the complaints of British subjects against the local authorities. He was also charged by law with the duty of relieving distressed Englishmen, and of making advances to enable the m to return home. These were not by their nature diplomatic duties. To diplo- macy belonged the intercourse between nation and nation, and between the government of one country and the government of another. Consular duties related to the intercourse between the subjects of one, country mid the sub- jects of another. The two duties were essentially distinct, though it might occasionally happen that a diplomatist performed the duty 01 a consul, or a consul that of a diplomatist, when unexpected circumstances 111.1.t11 red. But it was not, after all, Mr. Disraeli's real object that his motion should be carried: it was simply a personal attack. After going into e long detail, and showing in almost every instance how ill-informed or uttItir Mr. Dis- raeli was in his statement of facts, Lord Palmerston clever) observed, that though the honourable gentleman had affirmed the general prtneiple that political adherents ought to be rewarded by appointments, it , to be re- gretted that Mr. Disraeli should in eis own person be an ex., omit to his own rule. Lord Palmerston trusted, that atter the proofs of talent and ability the honourable Member for Shrewsbury had exhibited, t he Govern- ment would overlook his want of industry in getting up the &Leis or the case, and that before the session terminated the House night see Mr. Dis- raeli's maxim applied to his own case. Lord Palmerston defete.ed the ap- pointment of his relation, whom he bad conscientiously seleetett bemuse he was fully capable of performing satisfactorily his responsible mil les. Any- thing personal to Lord Palmerston Mr. Disraeli was quite entitled to urge with any degree of antithesis, epigram, or force, that he might think proper. Though no longer a Minister of the Crown, 'Lord Palmerston a o‘ fully re- sponsible for what he had done when in office ; but he thought O. ,t It was not very generous and not very becoming in any gentleman, merely for the pur- pose of attacking a political opponent, to draw into the discussion men who ; had no connexion with the party conflicts within the walls of the House of 1 Commons, who were most sensitive about their characters, and whose Mau- 1 once in supporting the interests of their country in foreign lands depended very much upon the estimation in which they appeared to be held at home. This was wantonly wounding the feelings persons whom a political parti- san could have no motive for attacking. , Therefore,' said Lord Palmerston, in conclusion, ' I would say to the honourable Member, that in future I beg he will turn his steel upon me. Here am I who did it. Let him attack me as much as he pleases. But let him permit me to entreat, on the part of those who are serving the public in official stations abroad, that he will be as sparing as possible of their feelings ; and that, if in any case he should feel it his duty to embark in a crusade against any of them, he will at least take pains to be quite sure that the information upon which he founds his charge is thoroughly correct, .before he says that which, going forth to the world, must inflict pain on those who deserved no censure, and must hazard a material injury to their efficiency as servants of the public.'"