Lord George Bentinck | Page 4

of the party in
the House of Commons, in their first encounter with the enemy.
These views, so just and so spirited, advanced with high-bred
earnestness by one rarely met in political turmoils, and enforced with a
freshness and an affable simplicity which were very winning,
wonderfully encouraged those to whom they were addressed. All
seemed touched by the flame which burned in the breast of that man, so
lofty in his thoughts but so humble in his ambition, who counselled

ever the highest deeds, and was himself ever prepared to undertake the
humblest duties.
The business of this day was notable. Calculations were made of those
who might be fairly counted on to take a part in debate; some
discussion even ensued as to who should venture to reply late at night
to the minister; a committee was appointed to communicate with all
members on either side supposed to be favourable to the principle of
Protection to the labour of the country; a parliamentary staff was
organized, not only to secure the attendance of members, but to guard
over the elections; finally, the form of the amendment to the
government measure was discussed and settled, and it was agreed that,
if possible, it should be moved by Mr. Philip Miles, the member for the
city of Bristol, and who had the ear of the House not merely from the
importance of his constituency, and seconded by Sir William Heathcote,
the member for the county of Hampshire, a country gentleman of great
accomplishments, and so highly considered by both sides that he was
very generally spoken of as a probable successor to the chair.
All was furnished by this lately forlorn party except a leader, and even
then many eyes were turned and some hopeful murmurs addressed
towards Lord George Bentinck, who in the course of this morning had
given such various proofs of his fitness and such evidence of his
resource. But he shook his head with a sort of suppressed smile, a faint
blush, and an air of proud humility that was natural to him: 'I think,' he
said, 'we have had enough of leaders; it is not in my way; I shall remain
the last of the rank and file.'
So little desirous, originally, was Lord George Bentinck to interfere
actively in that great controversy in which ultimately he took so leading
a part, that before the meeting of Parliament in 1846 he begged a
gentleman whom he greatly esteemed, a member of the legal profession,
and since raised to its highest honours, to call upon him at Harcourt
House, when he said that he had taken great pains to master the case of
the protective system; that he was convinced its abrogation would
ultimately be very injurious to this country; but although, both in point
of argument and materials, he feared no opponent, he felt

constitutionally so incapable of ever making a speech, that he wished to
induce some eminent lawyer to enter the House of Commons, and avail
himself of his views and materials, which he had, with that object,
reduced to writing. He begged, therefore, that his friend, although a
free-trader, would assist him, by suggesting a fitting person for this
office.
Accordingly, the name of a distinguished member of the bar, who had
already published a work of merit, impugning the principles of the new
commercial system, was mentioned, and this learned gentleman was
applied to, and was not indisposed to accept the task. A mere accident
prevented this arrangement being accomplished. Lord George then
requested his friend to make some other selection; but his adviser very
sensibly replied, that although the House of Commons would have
listened with respect to a gentleman who had given evidence of the
sincerity of his convictions by the publication of a work which had no
reference to Parliament, they would not endure the instance of a lawyer
brought into the House merely to speak from his brief; and that the
attempt would be utterly fruitless. He earnestly counselled Lord George
himself to make the effort; but Lord George, with characteristic
tenacity, clung for some time to his project, though his efforts to
accomplish it were fortunately not successful.
Some of the friends of Lord George Bentinck, remembering his
inexperience in debate, aware of the great length at which he must
necessarily treat the theme, and mindful that he was not physically
well-qualified for controlling popular assemblies, not having a strong
voice, or, naturally, a very fluent manner, were anxious that he should
not postpone his speech until an hour so late; that an audience, jaded by
twelve nights' discussion, would be ill-attuned to statistical arguments
and economical details. But still clinging to the hope that some accident
might yet again postpone the division, so that the Protectionists might