Recollections and suggestions 1813-1873

Front matter

GESTIONS iJsseLl

Cornell University Library DA 536.R96A3

3 1924 028 038 952

Preface

Some persons who jaaj cast their eyes upon this book, with the hope of finding that the whole work is new, may be disappointed, and even consider themselves deceived, by discovering that they have at second-hand what they have already read in the introduction to my report of my * Speeches and Despatches.' But I hope my explanation wijl satisfy them that I have acted for the reader's benefit in thus repeating what has been already read, instead of furnishing him with an article entirely original.

The fact is, that after I had proceeded some way in my task I found that my memory of past transactions was not, after the lapse of some years, so lively as it had been when I wrote the original introduction. I have, therefore, satisfied myself w^th copying in the first pages the work which I had already pubhshed.

IV PREFACE.

It may interest some persons to learn what education I had received before I entered Parliament. That education was in part broken and disturbed. After being at a private school at Sunbury, I went to Westminster, but was so ill there that, by the care and affection of my step-mother, the Duchess of Bedford, my father was persuaded to remove me, and I was sent with several young men of riper age to receive private tuition from the Rev. Mr. Smith, of Woodnesbury, in Kent. There I formed relations of friendship with the Earl of Clare, the late Duke of Leinster, his brother, Lord William Fitzgerald, and others. But I had not remained there long, when Lord and Lady Holland proposed that I should accompany them on a journey to Spain in the troubled year 1808. When I returned from Spain, in 1810, I asked my father to allow me to go to the University of Cambridge. But he told me that in his opinion there was nothing to be learnt at English Universities, and procured for me admission to the house of Professor Playfair, at Edinburgh.

There I had my studies directed and my character developed by one of the best and the noblest, the most upright, the most benevolent, . and the most Hberal of aU philosophers.

PREFACE. V

Some years afterwards I travelled again in Spain with my cousin, the late Earl of Bradford, and Eobert Clive, the son of Lord Powis. In the course of these travels I became acquainted with the Duke of Wellington, and had occasion to admire the calmness, the directness, and the patriotism which distinguished his character.

But I need not follow this narrative any further. [ was about to accompany my companions to Constantinople, and return home by way of Moscow and St. Petersburgh, when I was informed by a letter from my father that his old friend, the aciite and witty Fitzpatrick, was dead, and that he intended to propose me as candidate for Tavistock. Thus I became a member of Parliament before I was of age, and from that time my political life begins.

Before I conclude this Preface, I may mention that at Edinburgh a public dinner was sometimes held to commemorate the birthday of Mr. Fox. At one of these dinners, presided over by Lord Kinnaird, the following toast was given : —

'The Houses of Russell and Cavendish. May they ever be united in the cause of freedom ! '

I was called upon by the chairman to acknowledge the toast. I then said : —

' It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the

VI PREFACE.

toast which has just been announced by the chairman. It is a satisfaction to me to reflect that your favor is obtained, not by the accidental quahties of talents and power, but by a steady adherence to those principles which animated Mr. Fox through life, and, holding it by that tenure, I trust that it will never be forfeited.'

EDSSELL.

Aldworth, October 30, 1874.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

1 1

II. Policy of Lord Palmekstost in the East 183