verbial offspring in the minds of the many.

Yet

there be some, and these not the least intelligent in the community, who still recognise in the House of Commons not only the goal of respectable and useful ambition, but also a field in which well-directed effort may, even at this day, produce valuable fruit. To such natures it is more congenial to be brought in direct contact with the masses for whom they legislate, than to study the moods and allay the apprehensions of exalted individuals: the modern Parliamentarian may have ruder experience to undergo than had the nominee of a great lord of old, but faithfulness to his task earns wider sympathy, and it is more grateful to honest pride to stoop to listen than to cringe to hear.

Any early indications which William Smith

gave

of political opinion were tinged with moderate Liberalism. He seems to have inclined naturally to that side of politics to which his father, as a Wesleyan, adhered. Thus, in 1854, he had written from Dresden to his father, after describing the beauty of the town and surrounding country:

There is only one obvious drawback in all this—that the King and the Government appear to be and to do everything all that is great, beautiful, and even useful appears to proceed from the Government, and the people are nothing-reversing the picture as it is in England.

CONTEMPLATES ENTERING PARLIAMENT.

113

The idea of entering Parliament seems first to have presented itself in a concrete form to William Smith at the age of thirty-one. In 1856 he received overtures from the Liberal party at Boston with the view of ascertaining if he were willing to stand in conjunction with Mr Ingram, who at that time represented the borough. He appears to have been ready to accept the invitation on certain conditions, clearly set out in a letter, of which a draft remains in his own handwriting :

The most important question after all is whether or no the Party is strong enough to return a Second Member on the principles on which alone I can stand, and which are politically and religiously liberal.

His definition of Liberal principles which follows might scarcely satisfy thorough-going Radicals of the present day, for although he was in favour of abolishing Church Rates he was opposed to Disestablishment; though advocating the promotion of popular education by fresh legislation, he would not have it made compulsory; though holding the opinion that naval and military expenditure should be reduced (the Crimean war had then just been brought to a close), it must not be brought below the point of complete efficiency; and he could not look

VOL. I.

H

with favour on the introduction of vote by ballot.

Then in the following year, 1857, overtures were made on Smith's behalf with the view of his becoming one of the Liberal candidates for Exeter; but the idea was abandoned for the same reason that prevailed in respect of Boston -namely, that the party was not strong enough to return two Liberals.

Nothing, therefore, came of either of these projects, and the next that is heard of Smith in connection with party politics is a little incident which occurred in 1864. A personal friend of his, Mr Lawson1 of the Daily Telegraph,' happened to be calling one day at the House on Lord Palmerston, who was then Prime Minister, and remarked to him that there was "a young man in the Strand who would be heard of some day, and should be seen to, as he would make an excellent candidate."

"Ah," replied the Premier, "I wish you'd tell Brand 2 about him, will ye?"

Mr Lawson did so, but apparently nothing was done, for some time afterwards Smith came up to him in the street, and said

1 Created Sir Edward Levey Lawson, Bart., in 1892.

2 Henry Brand, Esq., M.P., the chief Whip of the Liberal party, afterwards Speaker from 1872 to 1884, when he was created Viscount Hampden.

A.D. 1864.] MR LAWSON AND MR SMITH.

115

"My dear Lawson, do you know what I have gone and done. I've accepted an invitation to stand for Westminster."

"Delighted to hear it," was the reply; "you're the very man of all others we should like to have. Rely upon me to do all in my power for you."

Oh, but I am the Conservative candidate, you know."

66

"Whew! that alters matters rather," exclaimed Mr Lawson, for the Daily Telegraph' was then the leading Radical paper. Then, rely upon it, I'll do all I fairly can to keep you out!"

And he was as good as his word, although it is pleasant to record that it made no difference in their friendship, which continued warm to the end.1

1 Mr Lawson was the cause of Smith's only experiences as a betting man. When Mr Disraeli was forming his Government in 1874, Mr Lawson happening to meet Smith in the street, asked him what office was going to be offered to him. Smith; "I neither deserve nor expect one." will have the refusal of one," said Lawson. Smith; "I assure you there is no such idea." Mr Lawson, “I'll bet you twenty guineas that you will be a member of the Government." "Done !" said Smith, and in less than three weeks he was Secretary to the Treasury, and paid his debt of honour.

"None," replied "All the same, you "Not I," persisted "Well," exclaimed within three weeks

Again, in 1877, Mr Ward Hunt, First Lord of the Admiralty, being seriously ill, Mr Lawson met Smith in the lobby of the House, and said, "Well, I suppose you will be going to the

Now, in speculating on the influence which, within eight years, had changed Smith from a moderate Liberal into a moderate Conservative, there is to be remembered something besides the fact that Lord Palmerston had in the interval gone to his place, and the restraint which he had so long exercised upon his followers had been removed. While Smith may be credited with a large share of what the Stoics called éπoxý, or suspension of judgment—-a quality peculiarly distinguishing his character in later lifethere is also to be taken into account the effect of a rebuff he had lately received, sharp enough to have discouraged a much less sensitive nature than his. Smith's name had been for some time on the candidates' book of the Reform Club; when he came up for election the haughty susceptibilities of the Whig members of the committee were set in arms against the admission of a tradesman, and he was blackballed. This apparently trivial act-lightly done and as lightly dismissed from thought- was perhaps to have

Admiralty soon."

"Nonsense!" Smith answered; "what put that into your head?" "Nonsense or not," said Mr Lawson, "I am willing to have another bet about it: I'll lay you fifty pounds that within six weeks you will be in the Cabinet." Again Smith accepted the wager, and within the stipulated time Mr Lawson called at the Admiralty to congratulate the First Lord on his appointment, and receive payment of his bet. "It must seem funny enough," observed Smith, "to you, who remember me working in my shirt-sleeves, to see me installed here."