Life and times of William E. Gladstone : an account of his ancestry and boyhood; his career at Eton and Oxford; his entrance into public life; his rise to leadership and fame; his genius as statesman and author, and his influence on the progress of the nineteenth century

Front matter

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CHAPTER III. At ErTon AND OXFORD

Crisis in 1821—Choice of Eton—Story of that School from Henry VI—The Town of Eton—Purposes of King Henry—Sketch of the Youth Gladstone—The Curriculum to which He was Exposed—Comparisons of Then and Now—Philosophical View of Collegiate Training at the Close of the First Quarter of Our Century—Nature of Subcolleges in Great Britain—Winchester and Westminster Schools—Sketch of. the ‘‘ Royal School” of Eton— Predominance of the Greek and Latin Languages—Class Divisions of the School—List of Text-books—Absence of Natural Science and Mathematics—Critique from the Zainburgh Review—Quantum of Greek and Latin Readings—Quality of the Texts—Authors specially Considered—Merits of Fagging and Flogging—Seniority being Substituted for Merit—Posterior Compulston—The Head Master as a Flogger—How Wellington Got his Courage—Introduction of Gladstone to this Discipline—Further Criticism of the Zainburgh Review—Athletic Sports at Eton—The Etonian Periodicals—Gladstone Juventis Dips his Pen—He Becomes an Able Editor—The Eton Miscellany Flourishes—Contributors thereto—Gladstone and Hallam Freres—How They Hurled their Lances —First Vom de Plume—Principia of the Gladstonian Style—His ‘‘ View of Lethe”—Phases of Poetical Adolescence—The Youth’s Vision of the Drowning Immortals—Narrow Range of Things Taught—The Gladstonian Epic of the Lion Heart—Increase of Mental Activity—Glimpses of Ambition in the A/?sce//any—Foreshadowings of Parliament—George Canning as an Ideal—How the Youth Became a Tory—Death of Canning—Other Political Heroes of the Day—Panegyric on Canning—Development of the, Gladstonian Style—General Results of the Youth’s Life at Eton—The Religious Bent—Gladstone as a Student under Dr. Turner—Choice of Oxford and Motives of the Choosing—Christchurch College in Particular—A Student ‘‘on the Foundation”—Larger Field of Scholastic Study Opens—Beginning as an Oxonian—The Debating Society—Changed and Changing Conditions of that Institution—The Young Man asa Champion of Tory Orthodoxy—Epoch of Reform—What the Student Debate Signifies—Cambridge and Oxford Divide on Shelley and Byron—Memorable Debate on that Subject—Preponderance of Argument on Gladstone’s Side in the Combat—He Rises to Distinction in the Union— Question of the Disabilities of the Jews—Resolution against the Earl Grey Ministry—Abolition of Slavery. in the West Indies—Gladstone on the Wrong Side—Leaders and Progress of Abolitionism—Position of Gladstone the Elder—Therefore Are We Opposed to Abolition—The Debate on the Oxonian Union—Philosophy of Gladstone’s Progress—How He was Entangled on the Slavery Question—He Comes to his Examinations—A ‘‘ Double First ” —Afterviews and Retrospect of Oxford—His Address to the Palmerston Club, : : 38-57

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Chapter IV. Travel And Entrance Into Parliament

Project of Going Abroad—Unfruitfulness of the First Journey to Italy—Better Results Afterward—The to Sicily—Moods of tna and Vesuvius—Gladstone’s : aay | —His Magniloquent Style—Glimpses of his Dream—By Way of Catania to the Summit = Piece of Description— ete How a Man may Prefer an Hexameter to a Volcano—Gladstone not a Great Traveler—The Political Arena oer Attractive than Nature—We will Stand for Parliament—General Sketch of Conditions in 1832—Transit of George IV and William IV—Question of Reforming the House of Commons—The Rotten Botoughs-— The Agita- t rhe tion Shakes Great Britain—The Slavery Issue and Disabilities of the Jews—The Disappointing Election of 1832 . Fa —Gladstone Promoted by the Duke of Newcastle—Style of an English Election—Opponents of Mr. Gladstone and mo Principles of Each—Appearance of the Neophyte on the Hustings—Contest of the Blue Club, with the Red—The Young Tory’s First Political Address—His Proclamation of Principles—Labor Should be Remunerated—Slavery pas Should not be Abolished, but Mitigated—Scriptural Justification of Servitude—Fitness should Precede Emanci- : pation—Ra!ly to the Ancient Flag—No Surprise at such a Delivery—Gladstone the Favorite—Contest with Sergeant Wilde at the Hustings—A Formal Poll Required—Scenes on Election Day—Gladstone is Successful—_ are Significance of the Election—Bearing of the Young Member from Newark—Question of the Press Tax—The Chorus of Cheers and Hisses—Sayings of Scribblerus Politicus—Counter Eruptions of the Yournal and the Reflector —<Argument of the Latter— Suspicion that the Duke did It—No Aspersion of Gladstone’s Character, - 58-72 ‘

CHAPTER V. am

First PASSAGES IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, ; -

Point of Superiority of the British Method over that of Congress—How Reform Lags in Great Britain—East

India Company and Slavery in West Indies the Two Bugbears—Condition of Affairs in Trinidad and Jamaica—

John Gladstone’s Estate in Demarara—Beginning of Debate on Abolition—Speech of Lord Howick—Gladstone’s

Maiden Effort—Flis Defense of his Father—His Second Address before the House—His Plea’ for Gradual i Emancipation—He Favors Temporizing—The Planters Must be Protected—Debate Results in Abolition with Compensation—The Borough of Liverpool to be Investigated—Political Value of Ten Pounds Sterling— Liverpool not particularly Corrupt—The Church Temporalities Bill—Measure Opposed by Gladstone—We will Defend the Irish Church—There may be Abuses, but Let Us Correct them Gently—Ought Students to Subscribe to the Thirty-nine Articles >—Gladstone Thinks it Should be Done Pro Forma—He Begins to Lead the Tories—Applause in Newark—Fall of the Melbourne Ministry—Peel Calls Gladstone—Parliamentary Method with Ministers Elect —Gladstone’s Appeal to Newark—He has Sergeant Wilde for a Colleague—Popularity of the Junior Lord of the Treasury—His Account of his Meeting with Lord Aberdeen—Question of Church and State Arises—Attitude of Gladstone thereto—The Reform Act is Accepted—Sir Robert Appoints Gladstone Under Secretary for the Col-

onies—His First Bill—Overthrow of the Peel Ministry—Nature of Action and Reaction in Great Britain— ~ Gladstone’s Speech on the Church Question—Adoption of Russell’s Resolution—Political Rancor in Melbourne Ministry—Negro Apprenticeship in the West Indies—The Buxton Resolution—Gladstone Speaks Against It— The Canadian Commotion Reaches the House of Commons—The Question at Tssue—Policy of Lord Dyrham as Governor General—Lord Russell's Scheme—Gladstone Speaks in Support Thereof—The Question of 1837—How

Shall We Manage the Church Estates ?~ Opposition of Sir Robert Peel to the Ministerial Measure—Rudiments

of The State in its Relation with the Church—Gladstone’s First Great Oration, - - = 73-87 |