Twice in the course of six months have This election laid the foundation of a deep and lasting friendship between Mr. Canning and Mr. John Gladstone. At this time the son of the latter was but three years of age. Shortly afterwards—that is, as soon as he was able to understand anything of public men and public movements and events-the name of Canning began to exercise that strange fascination over the mind of William Ewart Gladstone which has never wholly passed away. Ere we pass to other matters, some brief reference may be made to Rodney Street. This thoroughfare has many points of interest for living Englishmen. It was named, of course, after the famous victory of Lord Rodney on the 2nd of June, 1780. On the north side stands a handsome Scottish church, which was opened for divine service by the celebrated Edward Irving in 1824. Opposite this building is a mansion long occupied by the head of the Bickersteth family-a family which has given to the public service Lord Langdale, Master of the Rolls, and the well-known and highly-esteemed Dr. Bickersteth, Bishop of Ripon. The house now numbered 62, Rodney Street, is one which will always attract attention, for it was the residence of Mr. Gladstone at the time of the birth of his illustrious son. It is a large house, and formerly stood comparatively detached, with a wing on each side. One of these has since been altered and converted into a separate dwelling. It is not a little singular that the same house was the residence, in his youth, of the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, afterwards Viscount Cardwell, and long a political associate of the Prime Minister. In all the affairs of Liverpool Mr. John Gladstone took a warm interest, and to his efforts much of its increased prosperity was due. His public appearances were numerous, but with municipal matters he persistently declined to meddle, as he was a strong opponent of the self-elected municipal corporation of the ante-Reform Bill times. Whenever any movement, however, for the good of the town required his support, it was always ungrudgingly given. On the 28th of April, 1818, he addressed a meeting called 'to consider the propriety of petitioning Parliament to take into consideration the progressive and alarming increase in the crimes of forging and uttering forged Bank of England notes.' Although the punishments inflicted for them were so heavy, these crimes spread at an enormous rate. The Liverpool meeting passed resolutions recommending the revision and amendment of the Criminal Law. So late as the year 1823 the navigation between Liverpool the introduction into the Steamboat and Dublin was in a lamentable condition. Human life was recklessly imperilled, and no one seemed willing to intervene. One example illustrating the dangers which vessels ran may be Act of an imperative provision requiring a sufficient number of boats for the total number of passengers every vessel was licensed to carry. By this humane provision thousands of lives were ment of Governor-General of India. After the dinner an address was presented to the distinguished statesman at Mr. Gladstone's house. But although Canning retired from the representation of Liverpool, he did not leave the country. In consequence of the death of the Marquis of Londonderry by his own hand, the right hon. gentleman was invited to take office under the Crown. On this accession of Mr. Canning to office in 1827 a crowded meeting of his former constituents was held to celebrate the event. Mr. John Gladstone moved an address to his Majesty, congratulating the views that he considered the projected reform was going too far; that due regard was not paid to the influence of property; and he maintained that the qualifications for the franchise ought to differ in differing circumstances. That such a man should make a mark in the town in which a great portion of his life was spent is but natural. Mr. John Gladstone was esteemed by his fellow-townsmen, irrespective of class and of political opinion. The spirit of the man impressed itself upon all with whom he came into contact. His energy, his conscientiousness, and his philanthropic efforts in a variety of 'To John Gladstone, Esq., M.P., stock, 1821-26, and in the year 1827 this service of plate was presented MDCCCXXIV. by his fellow-townsmen and friends, to mark their high sense of his successful exertions for the promotion of Trade and Commerce, and in acknowledgment of his most important services rendered to the town of Liverpool.'* Whether mingling in the strife of politics had excited in Mr. John Glad *For some of these details respecting Sir John Gladstone, the author is indebted to Mr. J. A. Picton's very interesting Memorials of Liverpool. This was he represented Berwick. Altogether baronet in 1845. He lived to enjoy He lived to enjoy his justly-acquired honours for a short time only, dying in 1851 at the patriarchal age of eighty-eight. Sir John Gladstone was not devoid of literary talent. When the Slavery question came to the front, he entered into a correspondence upon the subject with Mr. John Cropper, and wrote a pamphlet On the Present State of Slavery in the British West Indies and in the United States of America; and on the Importation of Sugar from the British Settlements in India.' In the year 1830 he published 'A Statement of Facts connected with the Present State of Slavery in the British Sugar and Coffee Colonies, and in the United States of America; together with a View of the Situation of the Lower Classes in the United Kingdom in a Letter addressed to Sir Robert Peel.' He also wrote and issued in 1846 a pamphlet entitled 'Plain Facts Facts intimately connected with the intended Repeal of the Corn Laws; or, Probable Effects on the Public Revenue and the Prosperity of this Country.' sons are not ashamed of Scotland; and the memory of the parents to whom I owe my being combines with various other considerations to make me glad and thankful to remember that the blood which runs in my veins is exclusively Scottish.' Sir John Gladstone who had no issue by his first marriage-married as his second wife Ann Robertson, daughter of Mr. Andrew Robertson, of Stornoway, and sometime Provost of Dingwall. She has been described by one who knew her intimately as a lady of very great accomplishments; of fascinating manners, of commanding presence and high intellect; one to grace any home and endear any heart.' Her children were six in number-four sons and two daughters. Of the sons two only survive, viz., Sir Thomas Gladstone, Bart., of Fasque, and William Ewart Gladstone. Captain John Neilson Gladstone, sometime M.P. for Portarlington, died in 1863, and Mr. Robertson Gladstone, a prominent merchant and citizen of Liverpool, died in 1875. Of the daughters, one, Anne McKenzie Gladstone, died many years ago, and the other, Helen Jane, quite recently, both ladies being unmarried. The enormous wealth of Sir John Gladstone enabled him to make handsome provision for each of his children. during his lifetime-a fortunate circumstance for the future statesman, and one which left him at liberty to devote his energies to the public service, undistracted by the necessity for business or professional occupation. The Glad |