Lord George Bentinck | Page 3

As for the industrial
question, he was sincerely opposed to the Manchester scheme, because
he thought that its full development would impair and might subvert
our territorial constitution, which he held to be the real security of our
freedom, and because he believed that it would greatly injure Ireland,
and certainly dissolve our colonial empire.
He had a great respect for merchants, though he looked with some
degree of jealousy on the development of our merely foreign trade. His
knowledge of character qualified him in a great degree to govern men.
and if some drawbacks from this influence might be experienced in his
too rigid tenacity of opinion, and in some quickness of temper, which,
however, always sprang from a too sensitive heart, great compensation
might be found in the fact that there probably never was a human being
so entirely devoid of conceit and so completely exempt from

selfishness. Nothing delighted him more than to assist and advance
others. All the fruits of his laborious investigations were always at the
service of his friends without reserve or self-consideration. He
encouraged them by making occasions for their exertions, and would
relinquish his own opportunity without a moment's hesitation, if he
thought the abandonment might aid a better man.
CHAPTER II.
The Protection Problem
THERE was at this time a metropolitan society for the protection of
agriculture, of which the Duke of Richmond was chairman, and which
had been established to counteract the proceedings of the Manchester
confederation. It was in communication with the local Protection
societies throughout the country; and although the adhesion to its
service by the parliamentary members of the old Conservative party
had been more limited than might have been expected, nevertheless
many county members were enrolled in its ranks, and a few of the most
eminent were actively engaged in its management. In this they were
assisted by an equal number of the most considerable tenant-farmers. In
the present state of affairs, the council of the Protection Society
afforded the earliest and readiest means to collect opinion and
methodize action; and it was therefore resolved among its managers to
invite all members of Parliament who sympathized with their purpose,
though they might not be members of their society, to attend their
meeting and aid them at the present crisis with their counsel.
A compliance with this request occasioned the first public appearance
of Lord George Bentinck, as one of the organizers of a political
party,--for he aspired to no more. The question was, whether a third
political party could be created and sustained,--a result at all times and
under any circumstances difficult to achieve, and which had failed even
under the auspices of accomplished and experienced statesmen. In the
present emergency, was there that degree of outraged public feeling in
the country, which would overcome all obstacles and submit to any
inconveniences, in order to ensure its representation in the House of

Commons? It was the opinion of Lord George Bentinck that such was
the case; that if for the moment that feeling was inert and latent, it was
an apathy which arose from the sudden shock of public confidence, and
the despair which under such circumstances takes possession of men;
that if it could be shown to the country, that the great bulk of the
Conservative party were true to their faith, and were not afraid, even
against the fearful odds which they would have to encounter, to
proclaim it, the confidence and the courage of the country would rally,
and the party in the House of Commons would find external sympathy
and support.
With these views it became of paramount importance that the
discussion on the government measure should be sustained on the part
of the Protectionists with their utmost powers. They must prove to the
country, that they could represent their cause in debate, and to this end
all their energies must be directed. It would be fatal to them if the
discussion were confined to one or two nights, and they overborne by
the leading and habitual speakers. They must bring forward new men;
they must encourage the efforts of those now unrecognized and
comparatively unknown; they must overcome all reserve and false
shame, and act as became men called upon to a critical and leading part,
not by their arrogance or ambition, but by the desertion and treachery
of those to whose abilities they had bowed without impatience and
reluctance. There was a probability of several vacancies immediately
taking place in counties where the seats were filled by converts, but
men of too scrupulous an honour to retain the charge which they had
sought and accepted as the professors of opinions contrary to those
which now received their mournful adhesion. The result of these
elections would greatly depend upon the spirit and figure