PAGE

of arms between Lord Claud Hamilton and Mr. Bright. The Church Bill

passes the Commons.-Mr. Bright on the House of Lords.-Great Debate

in the Upper House on the Government Measure.-Majority for Dis-

establishment.- Mr. Bright at Birmingham in January, 1870.-The Irish

Land Question. - National Education.— Reciprocity. - Free Land. - Mr.

Bright and the Land Bill of 1870.-Provisions of the Measure.-The Pur-

chase Clauses of the Act.-Mr. Bright's Plans for Land Reform.-His Irish

Addresses . .

. . 321

CHAPTER X.

THE ELECTION OF 1868.-MR. BRIGHT ACCEPTS OFFICE.-SECOND

ILLNESS AND RESIGNATION, ETC.

The General Election of 1868.--Mr. Bright's Address to his Constituents. His

Speech in the Town Hall.-Contrast between Toryism and Liberalism.-

Mr. Bright on the Minority Clause.-Address to the Gun-makers.--The

enormous Public Expenditure.—Policy and Opinions of the Tory Candidates.

- National Education.-Scene at the Birmingham Nomination.-Result of

the Poll.-Great Liberal Triumph. Liberal Victory throughout the Country.

-Resignation of Mr. Disraeli.—Mr. Gladstone becomes Prime Minister.-

He offers a Seat in the Cabinet to Mr. Bright.-It is ultimately accepted.-

The Gladstone Ministry.-Mr. Bright's Re-election. Address to his Con-

stituents.-Remarks on his Acceptance of Office.-President of the Board of

Trade.-Mr. Bright on Nova Scotia and the Confederation Scheme.-On

Marriage with a Deceased Wife's Sister -Sir T. Chambers's Bill of 1869.-

Banquet at the Trinity House.-Speech by Mr. Bright.-Amnesty to the

Fenian Prisoners in 1870.—Mr. Bright's Second Illness. He resigns Office.-

The Press on the Resignation.-Mr. Bright condemns Home Rule.-Con-

gratulatory Address from the Workmen of London.—Mr. Bright on Repub-

licanism.-Presentation from the Potteries.-Review of Public Questions.-

Reconstruction of Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet.-Mr. Bright accepts Office as

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.-Great Meeting at Birmingham.-

Stirring Scene.-Important Speech by Mr. Bright.-Free Land.—The waning

Popularity of the Government.--Mr. Gladstone's Manifesto to the Electors

of Greenwich.-Dissolution of Parliament.-The Election for Birmingham,-

The old Members returned.-Speech by Mr. Bright.-Results of the General

Election.-Mr. Disraeli accedes to Office as Premier

. 342

CHAPTER XI.

MR. BRIGHT ON THE EASTERN QUESTION.

The Eastern Question in 1875-76.-Insurrection in Turkish Provinces.—The Bul-

garian Atrocities.-Mr. Gladstone's Pamphlet.-English Proposals to the

Porte.-Meeting of the Manchester Reform Club.-Speech by Mr. Bright.-

PAGE

Mr. Disraeli's Address at Aylesbury.-The Constantinople Conference.-

Great Speech by Mr. Bright at Birmingham.—Lord Salisbury's Policy.--

National Conference on the Eastern Question.-Failure of the Constanti.

nople Conference.-Russia declares War against Turkey in April, 1877.-

Mr. Bright at Bradford.—Address on Affairs in the East.-Neutrality.-

England and the European Concert.-Unfounded jealousy of Russia.-

Progress of the War.–Turkey desires the Mediation of the Powers.-Mr.

Bright at Birmingham.- Protest against War.-Retirement of Lords Derby

and Carnarvon from the Ministry.-Debate on the Vote of Credit.-Treaty

of Peace signed at San Stefano.-Despatch of Indian Troops to Malta.-

War Excitement in England. -Anti-War Conference and Demonstration at

Manchester.— Vigorous Speech by Mr. Bright.-Strong Condemnation of

Lord Beaconsfield's Policy - European Congress in July, 1878.—Conclusion

of the Berlin Treaty

. . . . 401

reaty

CHAPTER XII.

PUBLIC ADDRESSES AND CORRESPONDENCE-1867-79.-DEATH OF

MRS. BRIGHT.

Mr. Bright's Addresses in the Provinces.—Mr. Jacob Bright's Return for Man-

chester.--Political Retrospect by Mr. Bright.-Speech at Birmingham on

Education and Government Aid.-Mr. Bright receives the Freedom of the

City of Edinburgh.-His Address on that occasion.- Elected Honorary

Member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.-Important Speech in

the Corn Exchange.-Mr. Bright at Birmingham in January, 1875.-The

Government and the Church.—The Efforts to suppress Ritualism.—The

Public Worship Bill.–Tribute to Mr. Gladstone.-Mr. Bright on the Liberal

Defeat of 1874.-On Political Questions in the year 1875.—The direct Repre-

sentation of Labour.–The Gothenburg System of Public-house Manage-

ment.-Social Progress.-Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bright at Birmingham.-

A Stirring Week.-Mr. Bright on Household Suffrage for the Counties.-

Speech at Bradford on Free Trade.- Opening of the New Town Hall at

Manchester.-Mr. Bright on the Cotton Trade and Indian Administration.

-Address at Rochdale on Science and Art.-On Liberal and Conservative

Legislation.-On the Work of Sunday Schools.-Letter on Protection in

America.-Correspondence on Public Questions.-Great Speech at Birming.

ham on Foreign Affairs.—The Eastern Question.--Egypt.—The War in

Afghanistan.—The Government strongly condemned.-Mr. Bright on Pro-

tectionism in England. On the Depression in Trade.-Canadian Policy.-

Waning Popularity of the Beaconsfield Administration.-Conservative

Demonstration at Manchester in October, 1879.-Great Counter-Demonstra-

tion by the Liberals.-Animated Speech by Mr. Bright.-Scathing Denun-

ciation of the Government.--Mr. Bright on Education.-The Progress of the

United States.-Death of Mrs. Bright . . . . . 426

CHAPTER XIII.

MR. BRIGHT AND THE UNITED STATES.

PAGE

Letter from President Hayes to Mr. Bright : Invitation to visit the Unitea

States.--Mr. Bright's Reply . . . . . . . 197

CHAPTER XIV.

PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES—1875-80.

Mr. Gladstone's Temporary Retirement from the Liberal Leadership. Lord

Hartington elected as his Successor.—The Session of 1875.-Dr. Kenealy

and the Tichborne Claimant.-Speech of Mr. Bright.-Dr. Kenealy's Motion

against the Judges.-A Singular Division.-Mr. Bright on the Burials Bill.

-The Prince of Wales's Visit to India.-The Irish Franchise. Elementary

Education.-Women's Suffrage.—The Sunday Liquor Traffic in Ireland. -

The County Franchise.—Mr. Bright on Parliamentary Reporting.–Capital

Punishment.-On Indian Famines.-Settlement of the Burials Question.-

The Management of King Edward the Sixth's Grammar School, Birmingham.

-Indian Debate in 1879.—The Bright Clauses in the Irish Land Act.-Mr.

Bright on Agricultural Depression.-Motion on the Irish Franchise in 1880.

--Sir Wilfrid Lawson's Local Option Resolution

CHAPTER XV.

THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1880.

Causes which led to the Dissolution of 1880.- Opening of the Birmingham Liberal

Club.--Speeches of Sir William Harcourt and Mr. Bright.-Brilliant Attack

on the Government.-Meeting of the Birmingham Junior Liberal Association.

-Address by Mr. Bright.—The Zulu and Afghan Wars.—Dissolution of

Parliament.—Manifesto by the Premier.- English Ascendency in Europe.-

The Liberal Leaders and Lord Beaconsfield's Letter to the Duke of Marl-

borough.—The General Election.-The Contest in Birmingham.-Reception

and Speeches of Mr. Bright.-Interview with the Licensed Victuallers.-

The County Franchise and the Land Question.—Result of the Poll at

Birmingham.-Great Liberal Triumph.-Enormous Liberal Majority in the

Country:-Mr. Gladstone called to power.-Mr. Bright again accepts Office.

-Re-election with Mr. Chamberlain at Birmingham .

.

. 53+

CHAPTER XVI.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS—1880-81.

Mr. Bright on the Pacification of Ireland.-Speech at Birmingham.-Scheme for

the Reform of the Irish Land Laws. -Mr. Bright on the Rise of Noncon-

PAGR

formity.-The Session of 1880.-Mr. Bradlaugh and the Oath.-Mr. Gladstone

proposes the appointment of a Select Committee.-Appeal by Mr. Bright.-

A Committee appointed.--Its Decision.-Further Debates in the House,

Eloquent Speech by Mr. Bright.-Arrest and Release of Mr. Bradlaugh.-

Further History of this Legislative Difficulty.-Mr. Bright on Capital

Punishment.- On the Representation of Minorities.—He is elected Lord

Rector of Glasgow University.-Mr. Bright at Birmingham.-Address on

Irish Affairs.—The House of Lords and the Compensation for Disturbance

Bill.-Necessity for a good Land Reform.-Correspondence with Lord

Carnarvon.-Mr. Bright on International Arbitration.-Address from French

Liberals on the Transvaal War.-Free Trade and Reciprocity.-Letters from

Mr. Bright.-Local Option in the House of Commons.-Sir Wilfrid Lawson's

Resolution carried.-Irish Questions in the Session of 1881.-The Coercion

Bill.-Speech of Mr. Bright.-The Land League Agitation.-Mr. Gladstone

Introduces the Land Bill.—Mr. Bright at the Fishmongers' Banquet.-

Observations on the Land Bill.-Debate on the Condition of the Agricultural

Labourers in Ireland.-Mr. Bright's Views on the Question.-Second Reading

of the Land Bill.-Mr. Bright's Speech.-Ministers at the Mansion House.

-The Land Bill passes the Lords and becomes Law

. 555

CHAPTER XVII.

MR, BRIGHT'S ORATORY.-GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Personal Characteristics of Mr. Bright.-His Oratory.-Its Power and Quality.

-Its Freshness, etc.—Comparison with Mr. Gladstone.-Mr. Bright's Know-

ledge of Literature. - His Humour. — Examples. — Recreations. — Moral

Characteristics.-His Courage and Earnestness.-Mr. Bright as an Agitator.

-The true Seer in English Politics. His Career and its Objects. The

Friend of true Liberty.-Influence upon his Time.-Conclusion . . 605,

CHAPTER I.

THE FRENCH TREATY AND FOREIGN QUESTIONS.

Foreign Questions.— The Emperor Napoleon and the Anglo-French Treaty.-Effect

of Mr. Bright's Speech.—Mr. Cobden's Negotiations.--The Treaty signed.--

Mr. Gladstone's Budget of 1860.-Details of the French Treaty.–Tribute to

Mr. Cobden.-Debates upon the Budget and the Treaty.--Mr. Bright defends

the Government Scheme.—The Treaty approved.-Mr. Bright on the Policy

of the French Emperor.—The Annexation of Savoy.-Mr. Bright's attitude

on this question.-England and China.-Debate on the War.-Mr. Bright on

Government Policy.He severely condemns the Wars with China.-Financial

Affairs of India.–Foreign Invasion Panic in 1860.-Increased Fortifications.

-Powerful Speech by Mr. Bright.—The Disturbances in Syria.—Mr. Bright

on the Support of Turkey.-Mazzini and Mr. Stansfeld.-Mr. Bright defends

the Member for Halifax.–Scene between Mr. Disraeli and Mr. Bright.

PETWEEN the years 1860 and 1864, inclusive,

several important questions affecting our foreign

policy were discussed in Parliament; and in the

debates which arose in the Lower House Mr. Bright

took a conspicuous part. Foremost amongst these

questions was the negotiation of the French Treaty.

Mr. Bright, who was in perfect accord with Mr.

Cobden both as regards the reduction of our national

VOL. II.