A.D. 1876.] THE BURIALS BILL. 283 enjoyed a gift of eloquence which national fire and classical elegance combined to distinguish beyond his colleagues; and he used it to some purpose, for the Government were placed in a minority of 57 on his motion for closing Irish public-houses on Sunday. Ministers opposed a measure — - Mr Osborne Morgan's Burials Bill-and threw it out, which, a few months later, they were to include in their own programme. Doubtless it became known to them after the division that party allegiance, not private conviction, had secured to them the support of many of their own followers in rejecting a measure which made it lawful for Nonconformists to perform their services in Church of England burial-grounds, and probably some of Smith's Liberal sympathy, though he dutifully voted "No," lay in the "Aye" lobby. Later in the session a resolution to the same effect was moved in the House of Lords, in supporting which Lord Selborne uttered a sentence worthy of commemoration. Resisting the arguments of those who opposed the opening of churchyards to Dissenters, because of the injustice of invading the property of the Church of England, he said— I am not one of those who say fiat justitia, ruat cœlum, for I think the heavens are more likely to fall upon our heads if we do not do justice than if we do it. Left in London to finish up the work of the session when his family went to Greenlands, Smith kept up the usual constant correspondence with his wife : HOUSE OF COMMONS, August 7. One line, because it is pleasant to write to you, and to think a little of home in the hurry and bustle of work. . . . I am sitting at the Table of the House listening to Northcote defending the Suez Canal Bill. . . . ... August 10. Everything went on well yesterday at the Whitebait Dinner; both Disraeli and the Lord Chancellor appeared and spoke. The evening was most lovely, and the lights very pretty on the river; no doubt you are better off at Greenlands, but happily we can enjoy things as they pass. Smith spent part of September and October visiting ships and dockyards with Mr Ward Hunt, First Lord of the Admiralty; and the repose at Greenlands which he so earnestly longed for was further curtailed by work at the Treasury during the autumn sittings of the Cabinet. TREASURY, November 24. I was very sorry to be obliged to run away from you, . . . but I think it was my duty to come here, and the moment I arrived Northcote sent for me and kept me discussing business for an hour. The Cabinet then met, and they have adjourned without fixing any future meeting, so that if I had not been here I should have been wanting in some parts of my work. A.D. 1876.] WORK AT THE TREASURY. 285 November 28. Another busy day, but each day's work now leaves. less to be done, and there is great satisfaction in getting through work. Northcote goes away on Saturday, so I shall have much less to do afterwards, as all talking with him will come to an end. December 6. I have had a busy day again, and have had several long interviews, which have left me short time to write. Such a mixture of Post Office, Revenue, Exchequer Bills, Foreign Affairs, Kew Gardens, S. Kensington, Royal Society! My mind is very like the cross readings on a wall or a screen covered with scraps. December 18. I have been holding a levée to-day, or, as ladies would say, I have "received," until at last I am tired of talking. I hope things look peaceful, and at all events that we shall not be engaged in war. The Cabinet are cheerful. December 19. I have been prowling about looking for presents, but I have not satisfied myself yet. It really is difficult work. I am fearing I may not be able to get down to-morrow night. . . . I have had such a stream of people here one after another, and so many difficulties to smooth over, that I have not got on with my work as I hoped, and I do not want to have a quantity sent down to me. I have been engaged incessantly up to this moment (6.40) by a succession of men and work, all wanting a last word or touch before Christmas. . . . I think I have bought everything excepting the cane, but I shall come down laden with parcels like a Father to-morrow. 286 CHAPTER XI. 1876-1878. DIFFICULTIES OF THE GOVERNMENT-THE BULGARIAN ATROCITIES -THE BAG-AND-BAGGAGE POLICY - THE JOURNAL OF A DISCONTENTED MAN-OBSTRUCTION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS-DEATH OF MR WARD HUNT-SMITH APPOINTED FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY MISGIVINGS AS TO HIS OWN ABILITY-PROPOSAL TO PUT THE POST OFFICE IN COMMISSION -CONGRATULATORY BANQUET IN ST JAMES'S HALL -WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY MEETING OF PARLIAMENT As the session of 1876 moved to a close, affairs began to wear an unprosperous aspect for the Administration. The Porte had been in difficulties with its subjects in Servia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria, and in the repression of insurrection in the last named country Turkish officials had shown a ferocity which quickly awakened sympathy in this country for the sufferers. Party politicians are ever on the outlook for any occurrence, however remote, which may be turned A.D. 1876.] DISRAELI'S LAST SPEECH IN COMMONS. 287 to the disadvantage of their opponents, and in the Bulgarian atrocities Liberals were not slow to discern their opportunity. Conservative policy had ever favoured the strengthening of Turkey as a bulwark against the southward advance of Russia, therefore the Conservative Government must be called to account for the proceedings in Bulgaria. Mr Evelyn Ashley took the opportunity afforded, according to immemorial usage, by the Third Reading of the Appropriation Billalways the closing act of the session-to call attention to this matter, and it was in reply to him that Mr Disraeli made his last speech in the House of Commons. Next morning it was announced that he had been summoned to the House of Lords with the title of Earl of Beaconsfield. It had been known that his health had been severely strained by the more arduous conditions under which the House of Commons had begun to conduct its proceedings, and no one was surprised that he had decided to bring to a close his service of forty-three years as a 1 The secret had been well kept, for Disraeli loved coups de théâtre. Mr Evelyn Ashley happened to meet one of Disraeli's private secretaries, Mr J. Daly, on the morning after the debate, before the latter had seen the morning papers. "Well," said Mr Ashley, "you see I drew your chief for his last speech in the House of Commons, and he has had to take refuge in the Lords." It was the first intimation received by Mr Daly of the intention of Disraeli. |