Letters and Journals of James, Eighth Earl of Elgin | Page 6

to solve.
[Sidenote: Training for public life.]
The years which followed the completion of his academical

studies--those golden years which generally determine the complexion
of a man's future life--were not devoted in his case to any definite
pursuit; for though he entered himself of Lincoln's Inn in June, 1835, he
does not appear to have ever embarked in the professional study of law.
The scanty notices which remain of this period show him chiefly
residing at Broomhall, where, in his father's absence, he takes his place
in the affairs of the county of Fife; commands his troop of yeomanry;
now presides at a farmers' dinner, for which be has written an
appropriate song; now, at the request of Dr. Chalmers, speaks at a
public meeting in favour of church extension. At one time we hear of
long solitary rides over field and fell, during which the thoughts and
feelings that stirred in him would take the shape of a sonnet or a poem,
to be confided to one of his sisters; at another time he is keeping up a
regular correspondence on abstruse questions of philosophy with his
brother Frederick, still at Oxford.
In these pursuits, as well as in the somewhat harassing occupation of
disentangling the family property from its embarrassments, be was
preparing himself for future usefulness by the exercise of the same
industry and patience, the same grasp both of details and of general
purpose, which be showed in the political career gradually dawning
upon him. It was observed that, whatsoever his hand found to do, he
did it with all his might, as well as with a judgment and discretion
beyond his years, and a tact akin to genius. He was undergoing, perhaps,
the best training for the varied duties to which he was to be called--that
peculiarly British 'discipline of mind, body, and heart' to which
observers like Bunsen attribute the effectiveness of England's public
men.
As early as 1834, when he had barely completed his twenty-third year,
he published a Letter to the Electors of Great Britain, with the view of
vindicating the policy and the position of the Tory leaders, more
especially of the Duke of Wellington. A similar motive, the desire of
protesting against a monopoly of liberal sentiments by the Whigs, and
showing in his own person that a Tory was not necessarily a narrow
bigot, impelled him to offer himself as a candidate at the election of

1837, on the occurrence of an unexpected vacancy in the representation
of Fifeshire. But, coming forward at a moment's warning, he never had
any chance of success, and was defeated by a large majority.
[Sidenote: M.P. for Southampton.]
In the year 1840, George, Lord Bruce, the eldest son of Lord Elgin by
his first wife, died, unmarried, and James became heir to the earldom.
On April 22, 1841, he married Elizabeth Mary, daughter of Mr. C.L.
Cumming Bruce. At the general election in July of the same year he
stood for the borough of Southampton, and was returned at the head of
the poll. His political views at this time were very much those which
have since been called 'Liberal Conservative.' Speaking at a great
banquet at Southampton he said--
I am a Conservative, not upon principles of exclusionism--not from
narrowness of view, or illiberality of sentiment--but because I believe
that our admirable Constitution, on principles more exalted and under
sanctions more holy than those which Owenism or Socialism can boast,
proclaims between men of all classes and degrees in the body politic a
sacred bond of brotherhood in the recognition of a common warfare
here, and a common hope hereafter. I am a Conservative, not because I
am adverse to improvement, not because I am unwilling to repair what
is wasted, or to supply what is defective in the political fabric, but
because I am satisfied that, in order to improve effectually, you must be
resolved most religiously to preserve. I am a Conservative, because I
believe that the institutions of our country, religious as well as civil, are
wisely adapted, when duly and faithfully administered, to promote, not
the interest of any class or classes exclusively, but the happiness and
welfare of the great body of the people; and because I feel that, on the
maintenance of these institutions, not only the economical prosperity of
England, but, what is yet more important, the virtues that distinguish
and adorn the English character, under God, mainly depend.
[Sidenote: Speech on the Address.]
Parliament met on August 19, and, on the 24th, the new member
seconded the amendment on the Address, in a speech, of great promise.

In the course of it he professed himself a friend to Free Trade, but Free
Trade as explained and vindicated by Mr. Huskisson:--
He should at all times be prepared