supporters, and her welcome was the ex- My lord, I am surprised,' I struggled to say. 'Not a word, not a word! here is Lady Palmerston. My dear, welcome your old friend home; he is one of us again. He will dine with us to-day — won't you? We must keep you, now we have got you back. I am off to a Cabinet. Lady Palmerston, get our friend to tell you some of those anecdotes which used to delight us; I leave him in your care. Good-bye -au revoir, at eight o'clock,' and so he rushed out. I am engaged to dine, and have lost my chance!" Full many a government I have known Of Palmerston appears. But yet I would not rashly blame, Or Palmerston to them? His vanity gave occasion for many a joke; there was one, the parody on Goldsmith A. Yes; she was certainly his "guide, companion, counsellor, and friend," and Lord Beaconsfield fully appreciated her sympathy and devotion. He always said that he owed everything to her. But she never attempted a salon; hers were entirely domestic qualities. As the wife of He possessed great epigrammatic powa great leader and minister she had little er. Some one remarked there was no influence on the party; in fact, was very difference between occupation and busilittle known. Lady Palmerston was en-ness. "Why," he remarked, "the French tirely devoted to the object of confirming are in occupation of Ancona, but they the wandering in their adherence, and have no business there." He defined a winning over opponents. Many a difficult deputation as “a noun of multitude, sig. crisis has been averted by Lady Palm- nifying a great many, but signifying very erston entering the room at the suitable little." He certainly had the art of keepmoment, and in her charming manner in- ing in office, hence the lines: sisting on the discontented or disap pointed one accepting her gracious hospitality. She possessed the power of making each visitor feel that he was the guest she delighted to honor; and thus her receptions were highly appreciated, and were of incalculable benefit to the party. Lord Palmerston was also admirable in his tact and manner. It was ironically said of him by an old diplomatist, "Lord Palmerston is an excellent foreign secretary, he has so many pleasant social vices." One thing is certain, he had remarkable social qual-When some gay viscount old and jolly, ities, he was keen in observation, with a curiosa felicitas of expression, a consummate actor. An old friend who was recalled from an important but distant legation and appointed to an inferior post in Europe, came to me the day of his arrival in a state of indignation that he had never been consulted about the change. "I shall go at once to Carlton Gardens and let his lordship know in unmeasured terms what I think of his abominable conduct; afterwards I will return and tell you the result." He did return; and I said I hoped he had not minced the matter with the minister. "Plague confound the fellow! I never could say a word." "What do you mean?" "Why, I sent in my card and was kept in the dining-room while he was, of course, arranging the scene; for no sooner was I shown into his study, than before I could utter a word, he rushed up, seized me by both hands, My dear, dear friend,' he said, 'I rejoice we have you back amongst us; you exchange barbaric life for civilization; all your friends are so glad to welcome you.' Thinks that his hair becomes too grey; To hide his age from every eye, We used to know him, is to dye ! Lord Palmerston possessed great readiness and tact. A friend of mine wished to obtain a consular appointment for a rela tive — this was before the introduction of competitive examinations. "Too happy to serve you," said Lord Palmerston. "Call to-morrow and I will see what can be done." The next day he proposed a consulship of £600 a year in Asia Minor. My friend was delighted. But as he was leaving the room, Lord Palmerston called out, "I will have the papers sent for you to "What papers? sign." Why, you are aware that whoever recommends a consul, is made responsible for all the money that passes through the consul's hands." Need 66 I add that there was an end of the trans- | ward, not "now and then," but in his daily he was. A. Intimately; and a remarkable man His relations with Lord Palmers ton were curious. I forget what was the original cause of Urquhart's hatred of Palmerston; of one thing he was certainly convinced, that he (Lord Palmerston) was in the pay of Russia, and betrayed the interest of England. The thing was absurd; but Lord Palmerston did not like it, and was very glad when Urquhart had the opportunity of bringing forward his indictment in the House, when, as was expected, he entirely failed to substantiate any of his charges. From that moment the "faith as it was in Urquhart," as the Spectator styled it, visibly declined. career. P. Had he not a large following? A. Very large indeed. There were a great number of persons, and these men of ability and consideration, who regarded Urquhart as a prophet - as the founder of a new dispensation. His was a strange He was secretary at Constantinople during Lord Ponsonby's embassy; he then adopted quite the Oriental life, and his influence entirely superseded the ambassador's. This led to violent scenes, and Urquhart was recalled; this was in the reign of William IV., who became acquainted with Urquhart, and at once was subject to his influence. Had the king lived, that influence would have affected any government. At this time "The Portfolio," a collection of documents on foreign affairs, was edited and written by Urquhart. It produced a great sensation in the diplomatic world; not alone by the new light it threw on many political and social questions, but from the keen ob servations and ability of the writer. It contained from time to time passages of singular beauty and remarkable foresight. I remember when he foretold our terrible Afghanistan disasters of 1841, he wrote (I quote from memory): "I warn you in this midnight of your intoxication a daydawn of sorrow is at hand; and although my voice is now raised in vain, and my words find no responsive echo in your hearts, they will sink into your spirits when they are broken and subdued by misfortune." His chief work -"The Spirit of the East -possesses great merit. He was entirely master of the Eastern question; and on his own evidence, like the poet, he wandered east life. His house at Watford was an Eastern palace, with a Turkish bath (for it was Mr. Urquhart who introduced Turkish baths into this country), which in luxuriousness was inferior to none in Constantinople. Here Mr. Urquhart passed much of his time writing and sipping sherbet, with the thermometer at 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The repasts consisted of piloffs, kabobs, Indian curries, and sauces. He expended all the fortune he inherited, and the large sums he received from his many followers, on missions and couriers to all parts of the globe. Through him the world was to be renewed. Never was a greater instance of how faith in one's self can affect others. Although he has long passed away from public life, his memory survives among many who are interested in foreign affairs. The foreign affairs committee of Newcastle, and in many large towns, still exist, and have not lost faith in their great master, with whom they were always in constant communication. Numerous deputations arrived from these local bodies, to ask advice as to candidates for Parliament, or for an opinion on the important foreign question of the day. Woe betide the individual who presumed to differ from, or wrongly interpret, the oracle! Lord Houghton tells us in his melodious verse: Westward roll the orbs of heaven, Every thought of Urquhart turned east- your family that they may call themselves | spised. I may say that this description what they like; but they are Arabs, they come from the East, and they should be proud of it." Urquhart invited me for two days to was the result of subsequent observation; for when first the heavy crimson velvet portières, which separated it from the boudoir, were drawn aside, I was completely overcome by a rush of hot air. " I forgot," said Urquhart, who observed my astonishment, "you are not accustomed to a Turkish bath." "I never have even heard of it." "Well, it will be a new life, a new revelation for you. You think this hot; why, it is only 140. I sit for hours in this at 180 degrees, read, write, and sip sherbet. I undertake to say that any invalid, no matter what his ailment or his age, put in here for a couple of hours at 180 degrees, he would leave all his maladies in the bath, and come out fresh as a youth. Now you will try it?" 66 No, I thank you." "To please me?" I forget the Eastern name he gave his house at Watford, by the river-side- but he added, "if you come early you can take a bath." I was not greatly tempted to take, as I supposed he intended, a dip in the Thames; but I left early, and reached the house about ten o'clock, where I was received by two servants in Oriental costume, who salaamed as they showed me into the drawing-room. Family all in bath," said one. "All in the river!" I exclaimed. "No river, no river, sahib! in bath." It seemed an extraordinary reception, still more so when a small child, with only a little linen cloth on and all dripping wet, entered the room, made a low salaam, kissed my hand, pressed it to his forehead, and said, 66 Papa and mamma leave bath "Not even to please you. I am glad to soon," and then ran away. What it all have seen it, for it recalls my early Eastmeant I could not imagine, never having ern travel, and certainly seems the perfecheard of this Eastern life and Turkish tion of luxury.' Then we passed on to baths; but presently the two Orientals what my guide called the cooling room. again appeared, threw open the folding- This really was delightful a gentle doors at one end of the room, and a pro- warmth of temperature, divans placed all cession such as was seldom seen in the round it, amber-mouthed pipes inviting the West, appeared. It was headed by Mr. | bather to soothe his nerves. In all these and Mrs. Urquhart, in turbans and large rooms there was a subdued light, such white sheets, fringed with gold embroid- light as half conceals the grace which it ery, thrown over them. They were fol- reveals. It was admirable in the combi. lowed by three or four young men in sim-nation of richness and good taste. I could ilar costumes, only not quite so magnifi- well picture the Sybarite existence of the cent. These, I learnt subsequently, were man of deep and earnest thought dream. the private secretaries; then followed a ing his dreams in such an epicurean calm; large retinue of servants, some still in for silence was written up in large letters. a very moist condition. No word was So here the recluse or student might inspoken. Urquhart saluted me in Eastern dulge the dolce far niente; and it was fashion, said in a solemn voice, "Break-evident that all who came within the influfast will be ready in an hour," and the pageant passed on. This delay brought it to half past eleven. I had plenty of time to admire the beautiful furniture of the rooms, mostly of Eastern production. When my host and hostess returned they were in ordinary dress. At length, to my great relief, breakfast was announced, and I found myself recalling my young life in Smyrna. Except that we were given knives and forks, we might have been eating in an Eastern bazaar. After breakfast the bath mystery was cleared up, for through the folding-doors I was shown into a beautifully furnished boudoir. This led at once into a room lined with white marble, inlaid with gold work. Here were seats with embroidered cushions, there were tables covered with goblets such as Benvenuto Cellini would not have de ence of Mr. Urquhart were bound to go through this process of purification. Seeing that I had no faith in the virtues of the bath, we passed from the bath to the garden. Here was seen another proof of his wonderful energy and thought. From far and wide visitors who knew nothing of Mr. Urquhart and his eccentricities, or, as his disciples called them, his mysterious qualities, came to see his strawberries; they were exceptional in size and flavor. This result was achieved by digging trenches six feet deep, filling in four feet of any refuse, even dead leaves, decayed branches, then covering this with two feet of soil, and between the rows of plants placing slates so as to preserve the heat engendered by the decayed substance. The effect was remarkable, although it tion. After the question was asked on what particular subject they required information, Mr. Urquhart let forth with a knowledge and volubility which was in no degree diminished by his morning's exertions. Treaty after treaty was quoted with an amount of detail perfectly astounding, denunciations against Palmerston rolled forth in unlimited flow. "What," he asked, "must be the errors and weaknesses of a nation when a traitor like Lord Palmerston is enthroned in the highest place, and governs this great people?" Unfortunately for the perfect harmony of the interview, one of the deputation ventured to remark, "There is one point you have mentioned, Mr. Urquhart, on which I presume to differ from you." must be said that others have tried a similar process in other parts, and the result has not been equally satisfactory; but his attention to gardening proved the remarkable versatility of mind of my entertainer, and walks, shrubberies, and flower-beds were all kept in perfection of order. Here we strolled, and Urquhart gave me most interesting information on the Eastern question, which was shortly to be discussed in the House of Commons. His knowledge of treaties, of all matters connected with the influence of Russia in the East, was very great, and his remarks were interspersed with amusing anecdotes. I listened with rapt attention, as if I were a disciple of his school. Now and then I ventured a remark; but before my sentence was concluded, he would stop me with "I know what you are about to say, but first let me tell you par parenthèse, so and so." In vain did I try to edge in an observation; on went my host in one roll of interesting matter, clothed in eloquent language. At last my attention was exhausted, and I suggested an adjournment. "We have had a delightful talk," said Urquhart, "and really it is refreshing to find any one so well informed on these questions. I agree with most of your views." As I had not had the opportunity of expressing any opinions, Mr. Urqubart's imagination must have been very vivid. The dinner was in the same Oriental style as the breakfast. While we were at table a secretary announced the arrival of a deputation from one of the foreign affairs committees. "How long have they been here?" "Two hours." "Have you shown them all over the grounds?" "We have shown them everything, sir." "Well, I shall not be ready to receive them for nearly two hours more. Is the bath well heated?" "One hundred and sixty degrees, sir." "Put them into the bath!" And so, to their astonishment, these political pilgrims, who had never heard of a Turkish bath, found themselves suddenly plunged into an atmosphere of torrid intensity; nor less must they have been surprised at the evidence of Sybarite luxury in the life of the preacher of the new dispensation. When Mr. Urquhart was ready for the interview, we assembled in the large hall; the deputation was courteously welcomed by Eastern observances for one of Urquhart's creeds was that hand-shaking was one of the results of a degraded civiliza "What!" shrieked out Urquhart, amid responsive groans of indignation on the part of the establishment, "What! do I hear you differ from me? Why, sir, you come to learn here, to have your contemptible ignorance enlightened, to sit at my feet and listen; and you differ from me! Are you mad?" and so saying he rushed at the trembling culprit, seized him by the collar, shook him, while the three friends tried to assist him, and adjured Urquhart to forgive the outrage. "He never meant this, Mr. Urquhart; he only asked for a little more information." At last the great man was appeased, and quiet restored. The lecture continued to a late hour. When I was shown to my bedroom I found a bedstead and blankets, but no sheets and pillows. "Is this my bed?" I asked. "Of course," was the reply; "what is the matter with it?" for my surprise was apparent. "Why, there are no sheets or pillows "Sheets and pillows! Well, my dear fellow, I am disappointed in you. I was just congratulating myself after all you said this morning, on having at last found in the younger generation a man who was superior to the contemptible ideas of what is called civilization. Sheets and pillows! Why, sir," and here his voice rose to the oratorical pitch "do you imagine our forefathers in the days of England's greatness, before men like Palmerston were permitted to drag on a guilty existence, -do you suppose they cared for sheets and pillows? It is this miserable, contemptible luxury that is the ruin of England. Sheets and pillows! Well, I did not expect this of you. Our bed is on the floor with blankets; our children's the floor without blankets. However, as my guest you shall have sheets." And | Urquhart never moved without a tribe of then there was a great disturbance in the secretaries and clerks. His correspond. household. At last sheets were brought, ence was enormous. I have always been but they must have been taken direct from surprised that some portion of it has not the water-tub, for they were so wet that been published; it would throw light on a Mr. Urquhart had his own way, and I had great many diplomatic negotiations. to roll the blankets round me and wait for day. P. What connection was there between civilization, Turkish baths, and Palmerston's supposed Russian intrigues? P. I can well imagine his papers to be of great interest. And now you must let me say that you have told me a great deal which interests me. If you will allow me to publish what I recollect of your reminiscences, they will prove far more acceptable to the public than any historic essay. And why should you not continue these recollections of the past in a future number of Maga, if we find that my readers sympathize with my view? A. Willingly. I will find the memories of the past if you find the readers. A. Urquhart's theory was, that a nation must be in the last state of decline to admit of the existence, much less of the rule, of such a "criminal" as he styled Lord Palmerston, rather a far-fetched conclusion, even if his premises were correct. But Urquhart did not care for logic, he demanded faith, what, as I have said, the Spectator styled the "faith as it is in Urquhart," one article of which was that only those have enlightened minds who have clean bodies—hence the introduction of the Turkish baths. He found devoted adherents amongst the ablest men. Monteith of Carstairs, one of those who at IT discovers an altar to an unknown Cambridge were styled the Twelve Apos- god,-humanity in ignorant worship of tles (amongst whom were Tennyson, Hal-time. lam, all men of distinguished ability), entirely believed in him as the Saviour of Society. P. Was the Monteith you speak of the son of Monteith of Carstairs, who received Sir Robert Peel in 1835 in Glasgow? From The Contemporary Review. A LUMBER-ROOM. It offends us at the same time that it fascinates; we approach it in impatience; we descend from it with lingering, in dust and tears. As in a vault we look round; we dare not transpose or remove. Our memorial chapel is an attic where grandpapa's crutches touch the long, slopA. Yes; it was on the occasion of Sir ing roof, and the moralities are inscribed Robert's election as lord rector of the on a sampler, traversed by mystic signs. university. I can remember the sensation Our religion is betrayed in our attachment Sir Robert created when he visited Glas- to the obsolete; the four-post bed in its gow. A great banquet was given him, mouldering uselessness awaits the final and his speech, like his inaugural address, trump. Not without hope of ultimate was a noble effort, and produced a deep restoration have these rusting fire-irons, impression; but I recall a passage which this dilapidated furniture, been confided gave occasion for a great deal of parody to the custody of the mildew and the moth. and amusement. Sir Robert described Neither are trophies of our mortality how he travelled through Scotland, "not wanting. We preserve, as in a crude catain a luxurious post-chaise, but on a hum-logue, records of our ancient sickness or ble but faithful steed." Lord Lytton in his admirable satire, the "New Timon," says, necessity. We cannot destroy the leading-strings of our own childhood; and what of the knobbed stick, the pad, the crutch? Gratitude still leans on these; the horn spectacles, that have ceased to lighten the eyes of our ancestors, dim our own. The Now on his humble but his faithful steed Sir Robert rides, he never rides at speed. Old Mr. Monteith was very proud of hav-nearer an object has lain to life the keening Sir Robert as his guest on this impor- lier it penetrates our sympathy. A pipe, tant occasion. Mr. Monteith was a very a ragged purse, a stained palette, a carving remarkable man - one of the last of the half blocked-in, any broken instrument, city magnates, in the days of tappit hens engage us more than objects stamped and Glasgow punch of shrewd sense with the estranging impress of remoteand great benevolence. His son, the late ness or achievement. The globe once Robert Monteith, came very early under habited by gold-fish, the empty bird-cage, the Urquhart influence, and was one of even the tenantless mouse-trap, distress the most considerable of his disciples. us. Instinctively we moralize. Divines |