Showing 30 results

WW is sorry but not surprised that there is to be an election for the Chancellorship between Prince Albert and Lord Powis [see WW to JCH, 17 Feb. 1847]. 'Goulburn [Henry Goulburn] is one of the Peelites; and the manner in which they deceived and disappointed those whom they had led to depend upon them cannot fail to excite a strong feeling of indignation. And laying aside all strong feelings, I do not see how Peel and his followers can ever again be of service preserving the institutions of the country'. WW does not see 'how Goulburn can be supported by those who have hitherto supported him; since his course, as a Peelite, must be hereafter different from what it has hitherto been. I should have great difficulty in voting for him on this ground'. Further, if 'Goulburn is thrown out, it will not be an anti-Romish cry; for he has, in his letter to the electors, declared himself against the 'endowment of the Roman Catholic Clergy in England or Ireland''. However, 'I am not much conciliated by Goulburn's anti-Romish declaration, because I think it would go for nothing in the conduct of his associates; and I think, too, that it is only made for the sake of getting a few votes, and means nothing as to his own convictions'.

Trinity College - WW 'was delighted to hear of the temper in which you were working and of the prospect of getting on again with the printing' ['An Essay on the Distribution of Wealth, and on the Sources of Taxation: Part 1. - Rent', 1831]. WW hopes John Herschel will 'be our next President [of The Royal Society]: both for the reason you mention and because I do really care for the poor old society which I suppose you do not. It would be bad to desert the ancient lady because such bullies and parasites as South [James South] have been trying to hustle her out of the country'. WW does not think Peel [Robert Peel] will take notice of RJ's project, 'but in good truth I think something of the kind is needed - the proceedings in your part of the world are like a break up of society'.

Mattishall - thanks him for the lithograph of Trench, Arnold has been retracing Hannibal's journey across the Alps, protectionism of Peel, reviews of Hegel and Mill in the British and Foreign Review written by an Apostle

Whitehall - Asks to see Whewell the next day at half past 11.

Tithe Commission - RJ will be delayed in London on business and therefore will not be able to get to WW. RJ mentioned WW's 'plan of a protest to the Archbishop and to the Bishop of London[.] The Archbishop says no. The Bishop of London seemed struck by it and said he would consider and talk with the Archbishop about it. The third reading will be the right time - as it is not meant to oppose the measure'. RJ is feeling confident about his course of lectures. Robert Peel 'carries all before him stoutly but he is in a false position in some respects and I fear for the sake of conservatism that we shall see a reaction'. WW will be pleased to see Edward Ryan in a few months - 'he will be as strong as if he had never been in India'.

Original dated 4 Jun. [1842]. Not in Peel's hand? With two later copies.

With notes on the correspondence between Richard Monckton Milnes and Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet.

Deanery, Gloucester. - Agrees it is 'pleasant' that their two boys [Arthur and Robert] 'would have been close together' [in the scholarship examination for Harrow?]: hopes it is a 'happy augury of future friendship'. His son has another year at Elstree then hopes to try again next year: he was only twelve last November, and is still 'very weak in translation' though his composition is 'promising'. Trevelyan's son came top of all the scholars in the two translation papers: hopes he will have a 'bright & happy time' at the Grove [Harrow house]. Is going with his sons and two daughters for an expedition in the 'Forest of Ardennes [Arden]', as they call the neighbouring Forest of Dean, starting tomorrow; they should reach Tintern on Saturday. When the time for Trevelyan 's speeches comes, will think about him: quotes the lines from [Addison's] Cato which 'brought down thunders at the speeches in 1835', when 'Peel was... the hero of the ovation!'.

Arrangements for curacy in the Forest of Dean established by act of Parliament

B[awtr]y. - Proposed Lord Henry Bentinck for the county at his request, despite own illness: speech well reported in the Times. Lincoln's expenses are thought to be paid by Peel, Buccleugh and others. Retford poll prospects. Postscript: the Duke of Portland's oak plantations from Worksop to Mansfield; Retford poll 580 to 15, many did not vote; Granville Vernon on attendance at Henry Gally Knight's funeral.

Harrogate. - Agreeable day with the Stephensons at Serlby: the elder [George] talked not of railways but of Biblical creation, he showed little admiration for Sir Robert Peel and had never heard him express any opinion. Robert Stephenson's opinion of Bawtry railway scheme; his foreign projects; opinion of his former pupil Locke; the York-London line. Threat to the Badsworth Hunt; railway dinner at Serlby; crops; Harrogate business depressed by foreign railways; Mrs Thackray's property.

Album containing over 250 letters, notes, documents, unaccompanied envelopes, printed items, and photographic prints carrying the handwriting and/or autographs of sovereigns, prelates, government ministers, peers, authors, and Trinity College masters and professors, with a few unusual items in addition. The material appears to have been largely culled from the correspondence of George Peacock, his wife Frances Peacock, her father William Selwyn, and her second husband William Hepworth Thompson, with a few unrelated items. Most date from the 19th century but there are a few items from the 18th century.

Among those represented are King George III, Charles Babbage, E.W. Benson, the 15th Earl of Derby, the 7th Duke of Devonshire, W. E. Gladstone, Lord Houghton, Charles Kingsley, H. W. Longfellow, Lord Macaulay, Sir Robert Peel, John Ruskin, Adam Sedgwick, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Anthony Trollope, and William Whewell; there are in addition a miniature handwritten Lord's Prayer in a circle no larger than 15mm across, a carte-de-visite photograph souvenir 'balloon letter' from the Paris siege of 1870 with an image of the newspaper 'La Cloche', and a photographic print of Lane's portrait of George Peacock.

Oxford - WB replies to WW's queries in strict confidence: Lord Melbourne appointed Dr [Thomas] Arnold. Sir Robert Peel will appoint his successor [as Regius Professor of History at Oxford University] - [Henry] Hallam would not accept the office if offered to him. [James] Prichard is thinking of the matter, and should write to Sir R P announcing his wishes to possess the vacant office. He should also send copies of all his works and 'state his views in wishing for the Office to be the carrying out the subject of Ethnography; which has occupied so much of his attention'.

Cliff Cottage, Lowestoft - WW and Cordelia Whewell are settled in their new house [Cliff Cottage]. WW is now printing a second edition of his History ['The History of the Inductive Sciences, from the Earliest to the Present Time', 3 vls., 1837]. He has 'come to the conviction that to alter a book very much in the second edition, spoils it. You may avoid some error, but you lose the vitality and meaning of the work'. Who is going to put out the fire Robert Peel started in the House of Commons?

Trinity Lodge - WW agrees with RJ's gloomy analysis of Robert Peel: 'I think now, the sooner Peel is out the better. He has neither political wisdom nor good faith. A man who placed at the head of party combined for preserving the greatest objects of human and national action, civil and religious institutions, turns round upon them and says I have done that which I know will destroy you, can have no power, nor any feeling of the value of the objects'. Peel 'shews a previously settled determination to which the fear of famine is only a pretext I have little doubt that he has an equally settled determination to destroy the Irish church...I cannot think he can stay in long; and then I suppose we shall have the Whigs. For though he had not broken up the Conservative party enough for this when he resigned before he has done so now. - I am glad you are going to write about the effect of commuted Tithes on prices of corn; for Stanley's views appear to me very mischievous, and likely to work much harm to the clergy; especially if we come to times of scrambling for spoil which seems likely enough. - Dr Arnold's judgement of Peel, that he cared about nothing really but finance, is obviously quite correct'.

Trinity Lodge - What does RJ think of the 'sudden move of Peel's [Robert Peel]. It seems to me like the sinking of the Royal George[:] it was not in the battle'. WW would like RJ to help him find some account of the ecclesiastical constitution (the relation of Church and State) in all the kingdoms of Europe. I must modify that part of my Morality ['The Elements of Morality, Including Polity', 2 vols., 1845]'. WW thinks it likely that some of his suggestions from his book will be carried into effect soon ['Of a Liberal Education in General, and with Particular Reference to the Leading Studies of the University of Cambridge', 1845].

Cliff Cottage, Lowestoft - With 'the passing of the Corn Bill I suppose the existence of our Conservative Ministry must be drawing rapidly to a close, and I suppose with that the days of the present Parliament and this I suppose will set you at liberty'. RJ should therefore come and visit them in Lowestoft. Robert Peel's popularity is such that not one newspaper (except perhaps the Globe) supports him: 'I suppose we shall have the election soon'.

Volume with the title page "The Lyndhurst Papers used by Sir Theodore Martin, K.C.B. in writing The Life of Lord Lyndhurst published in 1884." The letters and writings have been tipped in and pasted in with cutouts to show both sides. The letters include those from Queen Victoria (to Lady Lyndhurst), Earl Grey, George Washington (to J. S. Copley senior), George Canning, the Duke of Wellington, T. B. Macaulay, the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Robert Peel, King William (1835), Prince Albert, Maria Edgeworth, Lord Brougham, the Earl of Derby, and W. E. Gladstone.

Hawarden - tithe redemption, Peel's return to office the worst thing that could happen to the Church

WW's 'doings at Cambridge seem to have gone off well in spite of your rebellion against the 4th estate'. Did WW have anything to do with putting Charles Ewan Law in? RJ has 'nothing to say for Peel's conduct and less for that of those who first testified against it and then without any real change of circumstances adopted it ' and subsequently retained office. They are 'just now to help the Whigs the only practically conservative body and on public grounds I really feel it a duty to give said Whigs all the aid I can to press their ground and so as against Law and Fielding I vote unhesitatingly for Goulburn. Johnny has been throwing too much of his equipment overboard in clearing for electioneering action and has raised a strong feeling about his want of rigor - so much for overdone craft - he is in part as resolute as ever'. There are signs that 'a section of his party falling from him almost all are grumbling and a favourite speculation is that the government will fall to pieces - that Peel will yield to necessity and come in calling the more liberal and some of the venal Whigs round him and exclude the Whig aristocracy. This I think I told you the Duke said would happen as soon as Peel went out - and his liberal friends, that are to be, are quite impatient for the event - I doubt his getting a majority by any such move - but if he lives he is the very man to try it. His clique say he has not the least intention of handing them over to the Whigs and staying out himself which is what I expected and hoped would happen and they wait in patient confidence in their administrative merits and his - good people'. As usual RJ has two bills before Parliament which he thinks are now safe.

Letters concerning the Trinity mastership.