James

J. Anthongt

FROUDE

38076.

'He was a man, take him for all in all,
We shall not look upon his like again'

Hamlet, Act I. Scene 2

FIFTH EDITION

LONDON

SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE & RIVINGTON

LIMITED

St. Dunstan's house

FETTER LANE, FLEET STREET, E.C.

1891

[All rights reserved]

O211198, S.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Carlyle on Lord Beaconsfield-Judgment of the House of Com-

mons-Family history-The Jews in Spain-Migration to

Venice - Benjamin D'Israeli the elder-Boyhood of Isaac

Disraeli

PAGE

I

CHAPTER II

Family of Isaac Disraeli-Life in London-Birth of his children-

Abandons Judaism and joins the Church of England - Educa-

tion of Benjamin Disraeli-School days-Picture of them in

'Vivian Grey' and 'Contarini Fleming'-Self-education at

home-Early ambition.

12

CHAPTER III

The Austen family-Choice of a profession-Restlessness-Enters

a solicitor's office- Vivian Grey'-Illness-Travels abroad-

Migration of the Disraelis to Bradenham-Literary satires-

'Popanilla '-Tours in the East-Gibraltar-Cadiz-Seville-

Mountain adventures--Improved health-Malta--James Clay

-Greece-Yanina -Redshid Pasha--Athens-Constantinople

Plains of Troy and Revolutionary epic-Jaffa-Jerusalem-

Egypt-Home letters-Death of William Meredith-Return

to England.

20

CHAPTER IV

'Contarini Fleming'-The poetical life--Paternal advice-A poet,

or not a poet ?——‘Revolutionary Epic ’—Disraeli submits to an

unfavourable verdict--Success of the novels - Disraeli a new

star-London society-Political ambition-Mrs. Wyndham

Lewis-Financial embarrassments Portraits of Disraeli by N.

P. Willis--Lady Dufferin and others-Stands for High Wycombe

-Speech at the Red Lion-Tory Radicalism-Friendship with

Lord Lyndhurst→Self-confidence-Vindication of the British

Constitution - Conservative reaction - Taunton election -

Crosses swords with O'Connell--The Runnymede Letters—

Admitted into the Carlton Club-Henrietta Temple' and

'Venetia '

PAGE

45

CHAPTER V

Returned to Parliament for Maidstone-Takes his place behind

Sir R. Peel-Maiden speech-Silenced by violence - Peel's

opinion of it—Advice of Sheil-Second speech on Copyright—

Completely successful state of politics—England in a state of

change-Break-up of ancient institutions-Land and its duties

-Political economy and Free Trade-Struggle on the Corn

Laws

CHAPTER VI

⚫ Disraeli's beliefs, political and religious Sympathy with the

people-Defends the Chartists-The people, the middle-

classes, and the aristocracy-Chartist Riots-Smart passage at

arms in the House of Commons-Marriage-Mrs. Wyndham

Lewis Disraeli as a husband

CHAPTER VII

The enthusiasm of progress-Carlyle and Disraeli-Protection and

Free Trade-Sir Robert Peel the Protectionist champion-

67

83

PAGE

High Church movement at Oxford-The Church as a Conser-

vative power-Effect of the Reform Bill—Disraeli's personal

views-Impossible to realise-Election of 1841-Sir Robert

Peel's Ministry-Drift towards Free Trade-Peel's neglect of

Disraeli-Tariff of 1842-Young England -Symptoms of revolt

-First skirmish with Peel-Remarkable speech on Ireland . 91

CHAPTER VIII

Young England and the Oxford Tractarians-Disraeli a Hebrew at

heart—' Coningsby ’— Sidonia—‘Sybil ; or the Two Nations ’—

The great towns under the new creed-Lords of the soil, as they

were and as they are-Disraeli an aristocratic socialist-Practi-

cal working of Parliamentary institutions-Special importance

of 'Sybil '

107

CHAPTER IX

The New Gospel-Effect on English character-The Manchester

School-Tendencies of Sir Robert Peel-The Corn Laws-Peel

brought into office as a Protectionist-Disraeli and Peel-Pro-

tracted duel-Effect of Disraeli's speeches-Final declaration

of Peel against the Corn Laws-Corn Laws repealed - Lord

George Bentinck-Irish Coercion Bill-The Canning episode—

Defeat and fall of Peel-Disraeli succeeds to the Leadership

of the Conservative Party

129

CHAPTER X

Disraeli as Leader of the Opposition-Effects of Free Trade- !

Scientific discoveries-Steam-Railroads- Commercial revolu-

tion-Unexampled prosperity-Twenty-five years of Liberal

government—Disraeli's opinions and general attitude-Party

government and the conditions of it-Power of an Oppo-

sition Leader-Never abused by Disraeli for party interests-

Special instances --The coup d'etat-The Crimean War—

The Indian Mutiny-The Civil War in America-Remarkable

warning against playing with the Constitution

149

a