We cannot tell which we should fight for; Shall we vote for the man who invented the

hat,

Or the man who defended the mitre?

Then why, oh collegiate dons, do you run
Into all this Senate-house bother?
Can it be that the lad who invented the one
Has a share in dispensing the other? *

Much-loved Augustus Stafford, that frank, cordial, friendly nature, so sadly and harshly treated by those who should have judged all his acts in a more gen

erous manner! Yes, he was somewhat vain, proud of his talents - and why not? Why should a woman not appreciate her beauty, and a man his intellectual superiority? Men of heart like to see the feelings of success and the glory of the triumph lightening the brow and brightening the eye, and one should sympathize with the language of Rahel to Ranke on the death of Gentz: 66 Therefore you cannot know how I for that very reason loved my

lost friend when he said that he was so happy to feel his superiority to many others, and this with a little laugh of triumph. Wise enough to be silent is every transient distorted mind; but give me the self-betraying soul, the childlike simplicity of heart to speak it out."

Maga. All your college set were not given to politics, but I suppose you associated with men of all opinions and of all pursuits?

A. There was a great deal of 'sympa thetic sentiment at this date among the undergraduates. For instance, when the Earl of Dundonald (better known as Lord Cochrane, the hero of Basque Roads) paid a visit to Cambridge, he dined in the Hall of Trinity College, and when he entered the hall all the fellows and students stood up. This was remarkable; for the glorious exploit of Basque Roads occurred in 1809, but it still interested the rising gen

I

Although it has no connection with this period, am tempted, while quoting graceful verse, to recall two stanzas by Cowper, written on the occasion of the fire at Lord Mansfield's, when all the library of Lord Chief Justice Murray was entirely destroyed:

"And Murray sighs o'er Pope, and Swift,
And many a treasure more,
The well-judged purchase, and the gift,
That graced his lettered store.

Their pages mangled, burnt, and torn,
The loss was his alone;

But ages yet to come shall mourn

The burning of his own."

I do not intend to afflict you with a series of undergraduate reminiscences; but there occurred an incident indirectly associated with the Bishop of Ely which suggests an amusing and original mode of raising money. There was a rather popand well liked in all sets, whose popularity ular, extravagant young fellow, well known He was the nephew of Mr. Mortlock, the led him frequently into financial crises. great Cambridge banker, and also of the Bishop of Ely. The relatives did all they could-paid and paid until they would pay no more, and at last desired him to take his name off the boards. This he refused to do, but adopted an unusual expedient to have his debts paid. He hired an apple-stall and a small tent, placed bank, with the inscription in large letters them exactly opposite Mr. Mortlock's on the stall, "Fruit-stall kept by Mr. Mortlock, nephew of Messrs. Mortlock, Lord Bishop of Ely. No change given." bankers, and of the Right Reverend the He passed the day seated in the tent in a magnificent, velvet-lined cloak, books on the table; beside him there was a plate to receive donations, which poured in sovereigns and half-sovereigns abounded. As there was room for two in the tent, friends took it by turns to sit with him. Mr. Mortlock, the banker, could not move out or even appear at the windows without seeing a crowd, whose sympathies were all with the stall-keeper, and who enjoyed the joke immensely. The result was inevitable. He had to be bought off. How ever, he did not remain at college; the authorities found an early excuse to get rid of him.

Maga. I dare say you could fill a vol

ness, unremitting self-denial. When my name shall be forgotten, or remembered only as a household word beloved by my children or descendants, you, sir, will be remembered, for you belong to history; you will ever be spoken of as the statesman of unsurpassed ability, as the consummate orator, the unrivalled debator, as one who achieved successes in a field of intense competition. Will you not demand something more, standing as you do on the summit of fame, with, as I may say, all nations and languages at your feet, you not use your power, like the prophet of old, to bless and not to curse the people?"

- will

A similar appeal was made to Sir Robert Peel as to the use of his great power, in the following verses: —

The noblest lords are forced to bow,
Oh thou to whose plebeian brow
And e'en thy sovereign must avow,

A. No; but sitting below the gangway, it is understood you are open to convic tions, and are not out-and-out ministerialist. The Young Englanders were not supposed to adopt a factious line; they simply expressed in bright and vigorous language fresh political views, which they hoped to see adopted by the government, so they sat on the bench exactly behind the ministerial or leader of the opposition. It was not without anxiety Sir Robert Peel heard the voices of the new party, who clearly intended to be independent of the Tapers and Tadpoles of the government, and would not at word of command cheer his glowing utterances. They were the more important because the Times, as represented by Mr. Walter, adopted them, and honored their speeches with leading articles and panegyrics. The fact is, Sir Robert Peel was not popular in the House, and not even with the nation, for whom he made the greatest sacrifice, even that of consistency. When he arrived from Rome in 1835, he was at the zenith of his popularity and fame; it was something to have a whole nation hanging in suspense on the movements of one man, while the Duke of Wellington really filled ad interim every office in the State. It was then Sir Robert had that remarkable reception at Glasgow, when he was installed as lord rector of the university, and made two speeches, one as lord rector, and the other in reply to his health at the banquet, which have never been equalled, certainly never surpassed, by any succeeding lord rector. But if his speech was frank, free, and open, his manner was not so, and the result was that the great divisions in the lobbies

Knit votes which served with hearts abhorring Peel.

And all this arose from his shyness, for he was a kind friend, a true and honorable man, of whom Mr. Raikes Currie (in one of those admirable speeches frequently delivered at the dinner-hour, which have therefore won no applause, either within or without the walls of the House) so greatly and nobly expressed himself, when he said, turning to Sir Robert, "He who would enter on a great political career

Thy plenitude of power;
So high indeed thy name doth rise,
That men who love thee not nor prize,
Can with thy feelings sympathize

In this triumphant hour.
When high-born fools who would think it

shame

To bear thy father's honest name,
Now humbly beg to share the fame

And trophies of the war;
When 'neath the spur hot Stanley frets,
And, thankful for the post he gets,
The last of the Plantagenets

Walks fettered to thy car.

Oh! if thou couldst but understand,
How great to rule the noblest land
That mortal eye has ever scanned
Thou wouldst not stoop their aid to ask,
Since time its course began
But doff the actor's hollow mask,
Rise equal to the mighty task,

Proclaim yourself a man.

Then thou wilt only place retain
To rid our commerce of its chain,
The bigot's folly to restrain,

And give the poor man bread;
And then perchance, content and free,
And in their gratitude decree
The people will thy guardians be,

A laurel for thy head.

But if with low and factious aim,
Thou playest the landlord's degenerate game,
No power on earth shall shield thy fame
No craft nor speech nor haughty pride
Shall turn the vengeful shaft aside,
The curse of talent misapplied

From Britain's darkest frown.

Alone shall drag thee down.

And thou wilt leave to after-times
Dark records of blood and crimes,
And bards will tell in future rhymes,
Of one who, raised by fate
From out the people's ranks to be
The lord of England's sovereignty,
Fell far below his destiny,

And did not dare be great.

The orator and the poet were satisfied when in 1846 Sir Robert Peel proposed the repeal of the Corn Laws. It is need less to say what a blow this was to all his party. The consequence of this sudden change of policy extended far beyond the measure itself, for it was the commencement of the sad loss of confidence in public men. It was not, however, until six months afterwards that the division on the Irish Coercion Bill hurled the great minister from power. However much he was convinced of his own integrity of purpose, it cannot have been without deep emotion that on this memorable evening he saw the great country party pass into the opposition lobby. It was well said at the time that those who voted against him on that occasion "were men of honor, breeding, and refinement, of great weight and station in the country.' They had been not only his followers but his friends, had joined in the same pastimes, drunk from the same cup, and in the pleasantness of private life had often forgotten together the cares and strife of politics. He must have felt the bitterness of fate, while the Manners, the Lowthers, the Bentincks, the Somersets, passed before him. Yes; these were the country gentlemen, the gentlemen of England, with whose cheers, but five years before, the very same building had been ringing whenever he rose; they were proud at having him for their leader. So they marched out, all the men of high character, and large-acred squires, whose spirit he had so often quickened, and whose council he had so often solicited in his eloquent speeches.

This occasion was the first difference of opinion in the Young England party. To some it seemed more desirable rather to continue to support a Conservative ministry, than to turn out Sir Robert Peel and let in the Whigs for the sake of a great principle, more especially when he could only be put into a minority by voting with the opposition. It was a very difficult position for young politicians to be placed in, the more so as not a few had very recently been speaking at agricultural meetings, and advocated the principle of protection in magniloquent periods. Many of the boroughs at that time embraced

large contiguous country districts-indeed, in not rare instances, the agricultural element predominated; but up to the last moment there was perfect confidence in the staunchness of Sir Robert to protection, and the voters had been gladdened with eloquent descriptions of golden crops and remunerative harvests, "of the bold peasantry, the country's pride." Nothing had been wanting to complete the picture of agricultural prosperity; now these visions had melted into air, and hereafter England was to depend on other countries for her food supplies. Those of our party who cared for men more than measures, resolved to consult the great man himself. Interviews with prime ministers are always solemn events, and it was not without nervousness that we went to Whitehall Gardens. But if we were nervous, Sir Robert Peel was much more so. No schoolboy could be more anxious than the great minister. While with one band he fidgeted with his watch-chain and seals, with the other he played with papers which were lying on the table. Still, when once he began to explain the position, no words could be heartier, no expression of feeling nobler. He said his brother, Colonel Peel, found himself in the same difficulty. When Sir Robert was told that in some instances it was impossible conscientiously to retain the seat without re-election, he made tempting offers to vacate on taking office, which were invariably declined. One of the elections consequent on these events was remarkable. The rival candidates were exactly equal the whole day. The poll was published every hour after eight o'clock, and on each occasion it was a tie. The poll should have closed at four o'clock, but at a quarter to four an excited mob made an attack on the polling-booth. It was carried away, together with the returning officers and pollclerks, the Liberal candidate, as it was supposed, being in a majority of one. The return was to be declared at the town-hall, whither the Conservative candidate went to protest against the return as illegal, the poll not having been kept open until four. As he commenced a very energetic protestation, the returning officer beckoned him to draw near, and whispered, "It is a mistake, you have a majority of one. As he spoke the band was heard approaching, playing "See the Conquering Hero comes !" They were chairing the supposed successful candidate. When the triumphal procession reached the townhall, they were told of the mistake, when (as was commonly reported) the occupant