THE BERWICK COMMISSION.
Several other witnesses have been examined ; among them, Mr. Ralph Anstruther Earle, formerly private secretary to Mr. Disraeli, and for a short time Member for Berwick. Having explained how be had corre- sponded with members of the Derby Government in order to obtain a promise that the town barracks should be restored, and how he used this correspondence as an electioneering engine, he spoke of Mr. Disraeli's relations with Brodie-
" I know a person nailed Brodie; he was sergeant-saddler at Weedon. I became acquainted with him shortly. after I became Mr. Disraeli's secre- tary. Shortly before the change of Government in 1858, a great deal of attention being excited by the Weedon scandals, several Members of Parlia- ment asked Mr. Disraeli to see Sergeant Brodie. Mr. Disraeli promised to make an appointment for him, but he was not able to do so ; but one day, as he was walking to Westminster, Brodie accosted him and introduced himself, and walked with him to the House. This occurred before the change of Government in 1858. Mr. Disraeli, thinking he had been ill-used, en- couraged him, and the result was that Brodie used to lie in wait for him and talk to him. At the time of the change of Ministry, I became private secre- tary to Mr. Disraeli, and one of the first letters I received was from Brodie, asking for an interview and making some allusions to his claims. Mr. Disraeli docketed the letter, to the effect that he knew the man and had some interest in him, and desired me to see him and ascertain what he wanted. Brodie came to meet me, and related the circumstances under which he had been deprived of his appointments, and asked if Mr. Disraeli's influ- ence would be used to get him reinstated in his former post, or to obtain some new appointment. Mr. Disraeli, entertaining the same sentiments towards him which he had entertained before coming into office, spoke to General Peel, and General Peel promised to inquire and ascertain whether anything could be done for him. The report received by General Peel was unfavourable to Brodie, and one of the reasons given against his being em- ployed was that Brodie was mad. Although there was constantly an air of excitement in Brodie's manner, Mr. Disraeli did not concur in this opinion, and observed nothing in his proceedings which could not be reconciled with his character as amen suffering under real or imaginary oppression. When Mr. Disraeli's efforts first failed to obtain any appointment for him in the public service, he was glad to learn from Brodie himself that he had ob- tained some employment in his own line of business. Some months sub- sequently, in April, 1859, Brodie accosted Mr. Disraeli in the lobby (I ob- tained this from Mr. Disraeli afterwards), and asked to speak to him in a private place. Mr. Disraeli acceded, and Brodie said he had lost his em- ployment, and that he was in want. Mr. Disraeli said he could not hold out any hope of his again being reinstalled in the public service, but he thought he might get him something to do in connexion with the general election—meaning thereby messenger or paid canvasser ; but he did not say where. He also told Brodie that he might go to Mr. Rose and mention his name. Brodie said, Oh, that won't do ; can't you give me something written ? ' Whereupon 'Mr. Disraeli took up an envelope, and wrote what —to use Mr. Disraeli's own expression—might be read at Charing Cross. I heard from Messrs. Pocock that Brodie had gone to Mr. Rose's office but did not see that gentleman, not as Brodie was taken as a 'spy,' but because his eccentric appearance and incoherent language, and his being under the influ- ence of liquor, alarmed the clerks, and they thought he ought not to be allowed to remain lounging about the premises, as he was manifestly intoxicated, and perhaps insane. This I heard, like the first of what is gone before, last Par. This is all that I know about ft. I have not seen Mr. Disraeli, or M.essrs. Coppock, or Mr. Rose about this evidence. What I have now said is my own recollection of what was told me, and what I know myself. I have received no letter from Mr. Disraeli or anybody else in reference to the evidence given here. That is Mr. Disraeli's handwriting [memorandum produced.] A statement such as Mr. Nicol made here was very current in Parliamentary -Circles at the time of the Frome election. With regard to the statement that Brodie had introduced 'me to debating clubs, he met me in Leicester Square, and told me there was an exciting political debate
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going on at a place n the neighbourhood, and asked me if I would go and hear it. I did go with him, and he took me to a place where I found seve- ral people sitting at a table drinking beer. He then said, Oh, we have come to the wrong place,' but I can't say now where he took me afterwards. I was never with lum again. I had no conversation with him about his being employed in the secret service of the Government. I should have thought him the last man to be employed in any such capacity. I first heard Berwick mentioned in connexion with this story when I read Mr. Nicore evidence. Brodie certainly was not in the habit of taking me to de- bating societies. He used to come to me with such paragraphs cut from papers as the following—' Wyld's Reading Rooms—debate last night, ques- tion proposed, Is Lord Palmerston fit to be the adviser of the Queen ? Ayes, 15; Noes, 10.'"
Mr. Stapleton, Captain Gordon, and Mr. Majoribanks, were among the other witnesses. Their evidence goes to show what is notorious that the place is corrupt. Mr. Majoribanks said- " Since I became a candiglate in 1853 I never spent a farthing on a vote, and am very unpopular with the freemen in consequence, as they know I could well afford it if I chose."
. Mrs. M'Gall was examined, but she cried and told nothing, except that her husband had gone away to Edinburgh.
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