The life of Richard Cobden

Preface

OWING to various circumstances, with which I have no right to trouble the reader, the publication of this work has been delayed considerably beyond the date at which I hoped to bring it to an end. As things have turned out, the delay has done no harm. My memoir of Mr. Cobden appears at a moment when there is a certain disposition in men's minds to subject his work and his principles to a more hostile criticism than they have hitherto encountered. So far perhaps it is permitted to me to hope that the book will prove opportune. It is possible, however, that it may disappoint those who expect to find in it a completely furnished armory for the champions of Free Trade. I did not conceive it to be my task to compile a polemical handbook for that controversy. For this the reader must always go to the parliamentary debates between 1840 and 1846, and to the manuals of Political Economy.

It will perhaps be thought that I should have done better to say nothing of Mr. Cobden's private affairs. In the ordinary case of a public man, reserve on these matters is possibly a good rule. In the present instance, so much publicity was given to Mr. Cobden's affairs — some of it of a very malicious kind — that it seemed best, not only to the writer, but to those whose feelings he was bound first and exclusively to consider, to let these take their place along with the other facts of his life.

The material for the biography has been supplied in great abundance by Mr. Cobden's many friends and correspondents. His family with generous confidence intrusted it to my unconviii PREFACE.

trolled discretion, and for any lack of skill or judgment that may appear in the way in which the materials have been handled, the responsibility is not theirs but mine. Much of the correspondence had been already sifted and arranged by Mr. Henry Eichard, the respected Member for Merthyr, who handed over to me the result of his labor with a courtesy and good-will for which I am particularly indebted to him. Lord Cardwell was obliging enough to procure for me Mr. Cobden's letter to Sir Eobert Peel (Chap. XVII.), and, along with Lord Hardinge, to give me permission to print Sir Eobert Peel's reply. Mr. Bright, with an unwearied kindness for which I can never be too grateful, has allowed me to consult him constantly, and has abounded in helpful corrections and suggestions while the sheets were passing through the press. Nor can I forget to express the many obligations that I owe to my friend, Sir Louis Mallet. It was he who first induced me to undertake a piece of work which he had much at heart, and he has followed it with an attention, an interest, and a readiness in counsel and information, of which I cannot but fear that the final product gives a very inadequate idea.

J. M.

September 29th, 1881.

CHAPTER I. Early Life

page

Coeden's birthplace 1

His family and early education ... 2

Business in London 3

Character as a young man 4

PAGE

Commercial journeys 5

Visit to Ireland 8

Family troubles 9

Begins business on his own account . 10

CHAPTER II. Commercial and Mental Progress

Cobden's early enterprise 12

Letters to his brother 14

AtSabden 15

Self-education 17

Visits France and Switzerland ... 19 Death of his father 20

CHAPTER III. Travels in West and East

Voyage to the United States .... 20

Vindication of his own country ... 22

Niagara 23

Estimate of American character ... 26

Publication of pamphlets 28

Starts for the East . 29

Gibraltar 30

Malta . 32

Alexandria ..33

From Alfeh to Cairo 36

The Pyramids 37

Cairo 38

Visit to Mehemet' AH 40

Egyptian manufactories 45

Massacre of Scio 46

Constantinople 47

Voyage to Smyrna 49

Conversations at Smyrna 51

Turkish characteristics 52

Athens and the Greeks 55

From Athens to Patras 56

Malta and the navy 58

CHAPTER IV. The Two Pamphlets

Mental activity after the Reform Act . 60

Combe's influence on Cobden .... 63

Application to English policy .... 64

The new problem 66

Prosperity and political stability . . 67

Russia and Turkey 68

Intervention judged by experience . . 70

The Great Usage 71

Importance of American competition . 73

Extravagances of intervention ... 74

Shelburne as a precursor 75

Cobden's literary style 76

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V. Life in Manchester, 1837-39

Political excitement 76

Letter on factory legislation .... 78

Rejection at Stockport 79

Business and position in Manchester . 80

Advanced opinions in Manchester . . 82

Struggle for a Charter 83

The Whigs and local self-government . 84

The Radicals and the people . . .

The Zollverein

The Prussian government ....

A Sunday at Berlin

Manchester and Germany contrasted Acquaintances in London ....

Incorporation of Manchester . . .

85 87 88 89 91 92 94

CHAPTER VI. The Foundation of the League

Bastiat's comments .94

Narrow beginning of the struggle . . 95 London Anti Corn Law Association . 96 The Chamber of Commerce .... 97

The idea of the League 98

The Corn Question in Parliament . . 100

Resentment of the Repealers .

. . 102

The lecturers in the country .

. . 103

. . 104

Condition of the rural poor .

. . 105

New settlement in business .

. : 107

. . 108

CHAPTER VII. The Corn Laws

Huskisson's legislation. . .

The Corn Bills of 1827-28 .

Effect upon foreign countries .

109 111 112

Attitude of political parties The Whig Budget . . .

Defeat of the Whigs . .

113 114

CHAPTER VIII. COBDEN ENTERS PARLIAMENT — FlRST SESSION

Free Traders 116 I First speech in Parliament . . .

The new Parliament 117 I Protest against the philanthropists

119 124

Chapter IX. Cobden As An Agitator

Friendship with Mr. Bright . , Their different characteristics Cobden's oratorical qualities . .

His personality

Feeling toward his countrymen

126 129 130 132

His faculty of veneration Conditions of usefulness Practical energy . . .

Logic and poetry . .

Genial ideas ....

134 136 137 138 139

CHAPTER X. The New Corn Law

Political plans 140

The autumn campaign 141

The League press . 142

Thackeray and Carlyle 143

Discussion in the Cabinet 145

The Ministerial plan 146

Feeling in the country 148

Cobden's speech on the plan .... 149

Country party and manufacturers . . 150

Disappointment of the League . . . 152

New projects 153

Attitude of the clergy 155

CONTENTS.

XI

CHAPTER XI. Sir Robert Peel's New Policy

The Imports Committee 157

Sir Robert Peel's position 159

The new tariff 160

Cobden's impressions 161

Speech on the state of the country . . 164 Reply to Sir Robert Peel 166

Chapter XII

Renewed Activity of the League — Cobden and Sir Robert Peel- Rural Campaign.

The League and the workmen . . . 166

Renewed activity 167

Cobden in Scotland 169

Mr. Bright upon Scotland .... 170

Speech on Lord Howick's Motion . . 172

Scene with Sir Robert Peel .... 173

Mr. Roebuck's attack 175

Feeling in the country 177

Reply to the Manchester address . . 178

Meetings at Drury Lane 180

Agitation in the counties 181

Interest of the farmers 182

Debates with landowners 186

Questions in Parliament 188

Occupations in the recess ..... 191

Distrust of the Whigs 193

Chapter XIII

The Session of 1844 — Factory Legislation — The Constituencies.

Statistics of agitation 194

Corn Laws in the background . . . 196

Ecclesiastical propertv 198

The " Condition of England " ... 199

Factory legislation 200

English forms of socialism .... 203

The forty-shilling franchise .... 204

Fox's views on this franchise . . . 206

Chapter XIV

Bastiat — New Tactics — Activity in Parliament - Private Affairs.

-Maynooth Grant

Bastiat's appearance in England . . 206

Bastiat and the Leaguers 208

Seventh year of the League .... 209

Change of tactics 211

Bright and the Squires 212

Important speech 213

Elocutionary methods 214

The argument 215

Disraeli's position 217

Prospects of the question 218

The Catholic grant 219

Letters to Mrs. Cobden 220

Private embarrassments 222

Letter from Mr. Bright 224

CHAPTER XV. The Autumn of 1845

The Edinburgh letter 227

The Ministerial crisis 228

Renewed agitation 229

Proffer of office to Cobden .... 230

Sir Robert Peel and his party . . . 232

Sir Robert Peel's conversion . . . 234

Finances of the League 235

Reconciliation with Sir Robert Peel . 237

Chapter XVI

Repeal of the Corn Laws and Fall of the Government.

State of public opinion on repeal . . 238

Difficulties of Peel's position . . . 241

Attitude of the Whigs 242

Proceedings in Parliament .... 244

Letter to George Combe 245

Cobden's view of his own position . 246

Plans for the future 248

The miseries of popularity .... 249

Letter to Mrs. Cobden and others . . 251

Progress of the Corn Bill 254

In London society 256

Third reading of the Bill in the House 257

The Bill passes the Upper House . . 259

Peel's final tribute to Cobden ... 260

Xll

CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII

Correspondence with Sir Robert Peel — Cessation of the League.

Peel urged to dissolve Parliament . . 261

Opposite views of Peel . ; . . . 266

Letter from Lord John Russell . . . 270

Final meeting of the League .... 271

Its peculiar work 272

Fresh projects 274

Reflections on social progress . . . 275

The National Testimonial .... 277

CHAPTER XVIII. Tour over Europe

Omens of revolution in Paris .... 279

Cobden's popularity among strangers . 280

Interview with Louis Philippe . . . 281

In Spain 282

In Southern France 283

In Italy 284

At Rome 286

Interview with the Pope 290

The Campagna 291

Naples and Turin 292

The Italian lakes , . 294

Venice and Trieste 295

Interview with Prince Metternich . . 296

AtBabelsberg 298

Berlin and Potsdam 300

Stettin 301

The Russian frontier 302

Moscow 303

St. Petersburg 306

Arrival at home 309

Chapter. XIX

Election for the West Riding — Purchase of Dunford — Correspondence.

General election . 311

Purchase of his birthplace .... 312

Picture of rural life in Sussex . . . 313

The Spanish Marriages 315

Letter to Mr. Bright ...... 316

On a mischievous foreign policy . . 317

Complaints from Bastiat 318

The Revolution of 1848 319

The Revolution in France 322

Work in Parliament 323

The Education Question 325

To Combe, on Ireland 327

On Dissent from one's Party ... 331

Position in Parliament 332

The People's Budget 333

CHAPTER XX. Miscellaneous Correspondence on Social and Political Movements

New plans for political reform . . . 334

Letter on change of programme . . 335

A triumphal celebration 337

To Combe, on National Expenditure . 338

The motion for Arbitration .... 340

The Peace Congress at Paris . . . 341

In Versailles

To Mr. Bright, on Ireland On Parliamentary Reform On the English Land Question To Mr. Bright, on Democracy To Mr. Livesey, on Temperance

343 344 345 346 347 349

Chapter XXI

The Don Pacifico debate — The Papal Aggression— Correspondence with Mr. Bright on Reform — Kossuth.

The Hungarian War of Independence Cobden's denunciation of war loans Root of Cobden's feeling about war The affair of Don Pacifico Issues of the debate . .

Death of Peel

Stock-exchange creditors .

Miscellaneous notes . .

Peace Congress at Frankfort The No-popery cry . . .

The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill ... 369

Deadlock of parties 371

Motion for negotiations with France . 372

Doubts on reform 374,

To Mr. Bright, on the Land Question 375

Letter on the Reform movement . . 376

Welcome to Kossuth 377

To Mr. Bright, in explanation . . . 379

Mr. Bright and Kossuth 380

English view of Russian intervention 381

CONTENTS.

Xlll

CHAPTER XXII. The Protectionists in Office

Fate of the Whig Ministry .... 382

Parliamentary tactics 385

Revival of the League 386

Growth of the military spirit . . . 387

Cobden's urgency for a dissolution . 388

The general election

The Free Traders and the Ministry Humiliation of the Protectionists .

Mr. Disraeli's Budget

Fate of the first Derby Ministry .

389 391 392 394 395

CHAPTER XXIII. The Panic of 1853

Fear of French invasion 396

Public rumors 397

The war of 1793 400

Social state of France and of England 402

French feeling for Napoleon .... 403

Peace Conference at Manchester . . 405

Events of the session 406

Misrepresentation of this movement . 407

Visit to Oxford 409

CHAPTER XXIV. The Crimean War

Origin of the war 410

Cobden's policy and Palmerston's . . 411

Mortification of Cobden and Bright . 414

Their steadfastness 416

Difficulties of a Peace party .... 417

Cobden's speeches on the war . . . 418

Letters to Mr. Bright 419

Letters to Colonel Fitzmayer . - . 423

Sympathy with Mr. Bright .... 424

Louis Napoleon 427

Letter to M. Chevalier 428

Letter to Mr. Ashworth . . . . 429

CHAPTER XXV. Death of his Son

Terrible news 431

Violent grief of Mrs. Cobden . . . 432

Mr. Bright' s illness 433

Sojourn in Wales 434

CHAPTER XXVI. Chinese Affairs — Cobden's Motion — The Dissolution

The affair of the " Arrow " .... 435

Defeat of the Ministry 437

The repulse in the country .... 439

Letter from Mr. Bright 440

Cobden's feeling 442

Mr. Bright's election at Birmingham . 443

Charles Sumner's visit 444

Views of parliamentary life .... 445

Chapter XXVII

The Indian Mutiny — Private Affairs — Second Journey to America.

Demoralization of England by India . 455

Change of Government 457

Private anxieties 458

Munificent friendship 459

Illinois Central Railroad 459

United States in 1858 460

. . 447

Christianizing the Hindoos . .

. . 449

On contact with inferior races .

. . 450

. . 451

Misgivings as to the future . .

. . 452

. . 454

CHAPTER XXVIII. Return from America — The new Ministry

Events during his absence .... 461 Arrival at Liverpool 463

Interview with Lord Palmerston Refusal of office

464 467

XIV

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIX. The French Treaty

Chevalier's visit 469

With Mr. Gladstone at Hawarden . . 470

Return to London 472

Arrival in Paris 473

Interview with the Emperor .... 474

The French Minister ...... 478

The Ministers at home 480

The Emperor's hesitation 481

Second interview with the Emperor . 482

Cobden receives official powers . . . 485

The Emperor's deviations .... 486

Hostile feeling in France 488

The treaty signed 489

Principle of these negotiations . . . 490

CHAPTER XXX. Holiday and Return to Paris

The Italian Question 491

Interview with Prince Metternich . . 493

At Cannes 496

Return to Paris 497

The Question of Savoy . . .

Discussion with the Emperor Prince Napoleon . .."...

Cobden's private circumstances.

501 502

CHAPTER XXXI. The Tariff — The Fortification Scheme

Debates on the treaty 503

Nature of the treaty 505

Fresh labors in Paris 506

The Commission 508

Social intercourse ....... 509

Count Persigny on the Empire . . . 510

Conversation with Prince Napoleon . 511

The proposal for fortifications . . . 513

Lord Palmerston's distrust .... 515

Mr. Gladstone's position 516

Cobden'^ remonstrance 517

Lord Palmerston's reply 519

Lord John Russell's reply .... 520

Effect in Paris 521

M. Rouher on Palmerston's speech . 522

Interview with Prince Napoleon . . 523

Conversation with Count Persigny . 524

Delay in signing the Convention . . 526

The Conventions signed 527

Cobden and Bright with the Emperor 528

Abolition of passports 529

Reception of the tariff in England . . 531

Antipathy to the English Government 532

Letter from Lord Palmerston . . . 533

CHAPTER XXXII. The Policy of the Commercial Treaty

Free exchange

State of the question in 1843 . . .

Cobden's vindication of the treaty.

535 I Peculiarity of Cobden's treaty . . . 538

536 Double operation of the treaty . . . 539

537 I The economic circulation 540

Chapter XXXIII

Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1859-60 — Paris — Return to England.

Letters to Mr. Bright 542

Mr. Bright' s public appearances . . 544

Condition of political life 545

Letters to William Hargreaves . . . 546

Napoleon III. as a writer 547

The state of Europe 548

The Turkish Question 549

Sober politics of Peel and Aberdeen . 551

British rule in India . . . . . . 552

Great producers — The counties . . 554

The English working class .... 555

Life in Algiers 555

Rights of women 556

Last interview with the Emperor . . 556

CONTENTS.

XV

Chapter XXXIV

The American War — Fortification Schemes — International' Law.

Reception in England

The Southern Rebellion

Proposed changes in maritime law . .

Battles with Lord Palmerston . . .

War and commerce

On China

On traders and missionaries in China On Lord Brougham — On secession .

On the Trent affair

To Mr. Sumner on the war . . . .

Shipping interests

On the commercial class 576

On Lord Palmerston 579

On the American blockade .... 579

Debate on Turkey 581

On the Polish Insurrection .... 582

The Cotton trade 583

English neutrality 585

Visit to the fortifications of Portsmouth 587

To Mr. Bright on the Confederacy . . 588

On the political torpor of the day . . 590

On privateering 592

Chapter XXXV

Correspondence with Mr. Delane.

Feeling towards the Times newspaper 593

Charge of the Times against Mr. Bright 594

Cobden's protest 595

Mr. Delane' s reply 596

Personal letter to Mr. Delane . . . 597

Continuance of the controversy Mr. Delane' s virtual surrender The merits of the controversy Letters to the Daily Telegraph Cobden's view of journalism

599 602 603 605 606

Chapter XXXVI

The Danish War — Last Speeches in Parliament — Correspondence.

Denmark and the British Government 606

Humiliating position of Palmerston . 608

Cobden's speeches during the session 609

Character of President Lincoln . . . 610

On Garibaldi's visit to London . . . 611

On Free Trade in France 612

On the triumph of non-intervention . 613

International law 614

On blockades 615

On the Danish Question 615

Chapter XXXVII

Speech at Rochdale — The Land Question — Correspondence — Last Days and Death.

Cobden's views on the Land Question 616

Illness after his return from Rochdale 618

Letter to Charles Sumner 619

On Minority Representation .... 620

Offer of a post bv the Government . 623

To Mr. T. B. Potter 624

On Canadian affairs 627

Journey to London — Last illness . . 628

Traits of private character Views on Culture . . .

Conclusion

. . . 630 I His contribution to social reform . . . 632 I The new possessors of power

634 635