CHAPTER V.

1834-1838.

Diary Resumed-Letter from Southey-A Stormy Political Horizon-Alma Mater-Installation of Duke of Wellington as Chancellor-Introspection— Change of Ministry-A Note-Book of Passing Events-Correspondence with Sir Robert Peel-Appointed a Lord of the Admiralty-Painstaking Diligence-A Short-lived Ministry-Church Reform-Tercentenary of the Reformation The Church Pastoral Aid Society Founded - Difficulties Concerning it-Factory Act of 1833 in Operation-Trials from Friends— Letter from Mr. Richard Oastler-Harassed by Fruitless Correspondence -The Ten Hours Agitation Grows - Mr. Poulett Thompson's BillOpposed and Withdrawn- Mr. Charles Hindley's Bill-A Pledge from the Government-Richard Cobden and Factory Legislation—“ Deluded and Mocked" by the Government-Factory Question Actively Resumed—-An Able Speech-Letter from Charles Dickens-Word-Portrait of Lord Ashley in 1838.

AFTER an interval of some weeks Lord Ashley resumed his Diary of "fugitive and desultory notes, and the first entry explains the motives he had in continuing it :

May 3rd, 1834.-Panshanger. I regret the long omission. Much might have been inserted to improve or interest me. The course or variety of one's feelings, the hopes we have entertained with their accomplishment or disappointment, our distrust or reliance upon God, our often or seldom prayer, with their respective effects upon thought and action; all these things duly recorded would assail us, as it were, with irresistible conviction. Let me henceforward be a little more punctual.

In order to give the Factory Act of 1833 a fair trial, little was attempted in Parliament for some years,

1834.]

EDUCATION OF FACTORY CHILDREN.

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beyond repeated remonstrances with the Government. and an anxious observation of the working of the Act. Outside Parliament, however, there was continuous exertion. Public opinion was strongly roused, a new era in legislation had been inaugurated, and a new chapter in the history of labour had been opened.

Every day found Lord Ashley devising some fresh plan, or listening to some fresh suggestion; and one of the schemes that lay very near to his heart was one which dealt with the question of the Education of Factory Children. A letter from his friend Southeythe last long letter he ever received from him-touches upon this:

Robert Southey to Lord Ashley.

KESWICK, May 12th, 1834.

MY DEAR LORD ASHLEY,-I am truly rejoiced to think there is a prospect of seeing you this summer. The country indeed will appear to great disadvantage while you have the Alps and the charms of a southern climate fresh in remembrance, but there is no other part of England so beautiful. . . . The Factory Question is overlaid at present by the Unions; but when the excitement which their menacing attitude has caused throughout the manufacturing districts subsides, the cry against that evil will again be heard. Unhappily some of the best intended efforts for mitigating the wretched consequences of this system have a sure tendency to deprave still further the very persons for whose relief they are designed. I allude to Infant, and even to Sunday Schools. Teach a mother to teach her children what all mothers used to teach theirs fifty years ago, and the instruction is given in love and received in love, and is wholesome for the whole family. The duty is undertaken for her now-nay, it is even taken from her, for the sake of making display, and the Sunday is made for the children the longest schoolday in the week!

As for Infant Schools, they are only good when they are

remedies for an enormous evil: when you rescue infants from the filth and pollution of the streets. But when infants are sent to them to be out of the mother's way, the mother goes out to day-labour, and the husband gets his meals at the beershop, and there is an end of all domestic affection. I have much to say upon these subjects. The better parts of the old English character will never be restored unless we can bring back something like the old habits of domestic teaching for the rudiments of religion-for all that is necessary to be believed-and of domestic industry.

God bless you, my dear Lord Ashley.

Yours with sincere regard,

ROBERT SOUTHEY.

The political horizon in this year, and especially towards its close, was stormy. The Parliament, elected soon after the passing of the Reform Bill, was near its end; a Conservative reaction was imminent, and the King, whose tendencies had hitherto been liberal, gave unmistakable evidence that he was now weary of his Ministers. They had occupied themselves much with Irish Church questions. The Irish Bishops had, during their Administration, been reduced from twenty-two to twelve, and the Irish Archbishops from four to two; while, by the appointment of the Irish Church Commission, the very existence of the Church Establishment in Ireland had been threatened. On the 28th May the Irish Bishops and Clergy presented an Address to the King, and in his reply he had expressed himself so strongly in sympathy with them, and so strongly at variance with the opinions of his Ministers, that no doubt could remain of his antagonism to the Administration of Lord Melbourne. To the state of public feeling then prevailing the Diary frequently refers :

1834.]

LOVE FOR ALMA MATER.

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May 27th. This evening his Majesty's Ministers are expected to exhibit a public dissension; they have now rendered order, government, and rule impossible. Under them the semblance might endure for awhile; should they be changed it seems to me we must be prepared for chaos. Twelve o'clock at night.-Stanley has retired, and others with him, having yielded as many principles as he could safely for himself. He approached the point of danger, and his sleeping conscience awoke. He will not consent to establish Popery. Why did he not long ago act po his foresight of this inevitable conflict, and stand out while it was yet time? There is no hope of Conservative Government. Until the Administration of this country can be founded on truth, religion, the welfare of man, and the honour of God (and this both actually and ostensibly), there will be no return to our ancient dignity and happiness. Now to think even of such principles at this present, is to look for the Garden of Eden in the purlieus of St. Giles!

There had been a growing intensity in the religious life of Lord Ashley. The habits of meditation and prayer had increased, the spirit of ardour, confidence, and love had shone forth more conspicuously in public and in private, and his studies had been more constant in religious literature, with a view to attain deeper acquaintance with critical theology." The following entries show the course and current of his inner life :

June 9th.-Oxford. Installation of the D. of Wellington as Chancellor. Fearful of being thought guilty of disrespect did I stay away, down I came. . . For an hour (it is now eleven at night) I have lounged about the Quadrangle of Christchurch-every inch of it seems holy. Years have added solemnity either to the walls or to my feelings, for I perceive in myself a sentiment of profound and affectionate veneration. It is not that my love for Alma Mater is new. I always admired her worth, as her child rose up and called her blessed,' but those were the transports of enthusiasm, and partook of the warmth and capriciousness of youth. My feelings

are now become deep, tender, reverential, and, as time has proved, steadfast. To her I must ascribe all that I have of learning, and much that I may have of virtue. If she did not altogether uproot (as who or what under Heaven can) every vice of my nature, she prepared at least the soil for the cultivation of better things, and gave me moments of thought which may prove the seeds of eternity. Shall I not then love her, pray for her, and, if possible, befriend her? Aye, by God's blessing, to my life's end, and I humbly thank Him that He has once more permitted me to stand on this sacred ground, and while in earnest gratitude for my own advantages of sound and religious learning, to implore His Holy Spirit to make me both willing and able to confer upon others some portion at least of the blessings that He has conferred upon me.

How much more I should enjoy this retirement were Minny with me. Why is it that I cannot bear the shortest separation from her! In fact, nothing is so delightful to the heart as the contemplation of innocence and purity, and hence it is that I feel, in absence from her, the loss of an unearthly pleasure.

Eleven years and a half have elapsed since I quitted Oxford— is it possible? What is the comparative condition of my mind? Is it more powerful and better instructed? Certainly, but not in the proportion of time, experience, and other men. But I have, by God's grace, a deeper sense (and yet how shallow!) of His religion; that is, however, the whole compass of intellect and knowledge: that being obtained, all other things will be added thereunto.

Why was I reckoned here, and for some time afterwards, such a promising young man? Why?

June 11th.-Yesterday was the anniversary of our wedding. Mark it with the red letters of joy, hope, and gratitude. If men would all base their love upon esteem, and their esteem upon religion, and their religion upon affectionate Christianity, marriage would prove a twenty-fold source of earthly happiness and surety for Heaven.

The theatre presented a scene of beautiful dignity and splendour. It may never be the lot of this generation to witness again such a display of persons, dresses, and enthusiasm. How can it-for the combination of yesterday depended not on the ceremony, but on the appointment of so peculiar a man to so peculiar a station at such a time and under such circumstances, personal and political. All, both