CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

THE FRENCH TREATY AND FOREIGN QUESTIONS.

PAGB

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 sererely condemns the Wars with

China.-Financial Affairs of India.- Foreign Invasion Panic in 1860.-

Increased Fortifications.- Powerful Speech by Mr. Bright. The Disturb-

ances in Syria.-Mr. Bright on the Sapport of Turkey.-Mazzini and Mr.

Stansfeld.—Mr. Bright defends the Member for Halifax.-Scene between Mr.

Disraeli and Mr. Bright

1

.

CHAPTER II.

THE PAPER DUTIES.-REFORM.-CHURCH RATES, ETC.

Opposition to the Repeal of the Paper Duty.—The Bill rejected by the Lords.

A Constitutional Question.- Mr. Bright on the House of Lords.-Debate in

the Commons on the question of Privilege.—Lengthy Speech by Mr. Bright.

-Defence of Mr. Gladstone and his Policy.-The Government meet the Paper

Daty difficulty.—Mr. Bright on Lord Palmerston.-Lord John Russell's

Reform Bill of 1860.-Mr. Bright's examination of the Measure.-Meeting at

the Free Trade Hall, Manchester.—Mr. Bright on Strikes. Further Debate

on the Reform Bill.—The measure is withdrawn.-Mr. Bright on the Session

of 1860.-Addresses at Wakefield, Leeds, and Birmingham.-Parliamentary

Debates on Church Rates.—Speeches by Mr. Bright. Reasons for Abolition.

- Ultimate Settlement of the Question.--The Session of 1861.-The Reform

Question.-Mr. Gladstone's Budget.—The Paper Duty again.-Mr. Bright

defends the Budget.- Protest against the Navy Estimates

36

CHAPTER III.

AMERICA AND THE CIVIL WAR.

PAGE

Mr. Bright and the United States.-Secession of Southern States.-Outbreak of

the Civil War.-Neutrality of England.--The Affair of the Trent.-Surrender

of Messrs. Slidell and Mason.-Mr. Bright on the American Struggle.—The

Duty of England.—The Cotton Famine.-Debate on the Affair of the Trent.

-The Condition of International Law.-Mr. Bright at Birmingham.-Speech

on the War and the Supply of Cotton.—He justifies the Policy of the North.

-Slavery and the South.-Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.—Speeches of

Messrs. Scholefield and Bright.-Meeting at Rochdale.—Northern Sympathy

with the Distress in Lancashire.-Speech of Mr. Bright.-Meeting on the

American Question in 1863.—Mr. Bright at St. James's Hall.–At the London

Tavern.-Debates in the House of Commons.-Mr. Roebuck's Motion for

recognizing the Southern Confederacy.-Eloquent Speech by Mr. Bright.-

Public Breakfast to Mr. Lloyd Garrison.-A noble band of Abolitionists.-

Appreciation of Mr. Bright's Defence of the Northern Cause.-President

Lincoln's Staff bequeathed to Mr. Bright

78

CHAPTER IV.

THE COBDEN-DELANE CONTROVERSY.—THE LAND QUESTION.-

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, ETC.

Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright at Rochdale.-Speeches on the Land and Labourers.

-Misrepresentation by the Times.—Correspondence between Mr. Delane

and Mr. Cobden.—Mr. Bright defends his Opinions and those of Mr. Cobden

at Birmingham.-Severe strictures upon the Times.— The Land and the

Labourers.-Evils of Primogeniture.—Effects of the Territorial System.-

Proposed Reforms.-Inducements to Emigration offered by the United States.

- Mr. Bright on the History of the Reformed Parliament.-Great Triumphs

achieved.-Reform and Emigration.- Ireland and Foreign Affairs.—Mr.

Bright on the Death Punishment and Townley's Case.—Important Speech

on Capital Punishment.-Temperance and the Permissive Bill.- Arguments

against Arbitrary Legislation

. 117

CHAPTER V.

MR. BRIGHT ON CANADA.-GOVERNOR EYRE.—THE DEATH OF

COBDEN.

Relations between England and the United States in 1865.-Excitement in

England. The Defences of Canada.-Debates in the House of Commons.-

Speech of Mr. Bright.-Causes of the Panic.— Mr. Laird and the Alabama.

PAG

-Our Attitude towards the American Republic.-Mr. Bright on the Defence

of the Canadian Frontier - The Storm blows over.-Cacadian Affairs in

1867.-Nova Scotia and the Confederation Scheme.-The Jamaica Massacre.

-Governor Eyre condemned.--Mr. Bright on the Murder of Mr. Gordon.-

Report of the Commission on the Massacre.-Prosecution of Governor Eyre.

-Charge of the Lord Chief Justice.—Mr. Carlyle's Vindication of Mr. Eyre.-

Death of Mr. Cobden.-Sketch of his career.-His Character.-Tributes to

the Deceased in the House of Commons.--Mr. Bright's Speech on unveiling

the Statue at Bradford.–Funeral of Mr. Cobden at West Lavington.-Scene

at the Grave

161

CHAPTER VI.

THE REFORM CAMPAIGN OF 1866.

Lord Russell and the Reform Question in 1865.-Mr. Bright at Birmingham.-

Examination of Ministerial Policy.-Position of Reform.-Representation

abroad and at home.-Rights of the English People.-Election at Rochdale.

-Dissolution of Parliament.—Mr. Bright's Address to his Constituents.-

Return of Messrs. Scholefield and Bright.-Vigorous Speech by Mr. Bright.

-Smart Attack on Mr. Disraeli.—A fine Peroration.-Death of Lord Palmer.

ston.-Speeches of Mr. Bright at Birmingham and Rochdale.—The Session

of 1866.—Meeting of Parliament.--Discussion on the Cattle Plague.-Mr.

Gladstone introduces the Reform Bill.-Mr. Bright supports it.-His Reply

to the Opponents of Reform.--Humorous Description of Mr. Horsman and

Mr. Lowe.—The 'Adullamites.'--Effect of the Speech.-Reform Meetings in

the Country.-Debate on the Second Reading of the Bill.-Elaborate Speech

by Mr. Bright.—The Division.-Exciting Scene.-Defeat of the Government

on Lord Dunkellin's Motion.-Resignation of the Ministry. Lord Derby

accedes to Office.-Reform Agitation in London and the Provinces.-Great

Demonstrations at Birmingham.-Mr. Bright on the Derby Ministry.-Meet-

ing at Manchester.-Enthusiastic Reception of Mr. Bright. He visits Leeds

and Glasgow.-Stirring Addresses on the Reform Question

180

CHAPTER VII.

THE REFORM BILL CARRIED.

Mr. Bright's Reform Speeches.-An arduous Campaign. He visits Ireland.-

Speeches at Dublin.-Reform Banquet in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester,

-Mr. Bright on the Inequalities of the Suffrage.—Lord Derby and his Party

and the Reform Question.-Trades' Demonstration at Kensington.-Meeting

in St. James's Hall.–Speech of Mr. Bright.- Forcible Pleas for Reform.-

The Question pressing for settlement.—Mr. Brights Defence of the Queen.-

He is himself misrepresented and slandered.-Reply to Mr. Garth, M.P.-

Workmen's Address of Sympathy with Mr. Bright.-Reform in 1867.-

League Demonstration in London.-Mr. Disraeli introduces the Government

Scheme in the House of Commons.—The Resolutions being opposed, are

withdrawn.—New Measure resolved upon by the Cabinet. - Resignation of

three of the Ministers.—Mr. Disraeli introduces the New Reform Bill.-It is

severely criticised by Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Bright.-Demonstrations during

the Easter Recess. Mr. Bright on Mr. Gladstone's Leadership.-Reform

League Meeting in Hyde Park.-Mr. Bright on Voting Papers.—The Bill in

the House of Lords.— Important Amendments.—Lord Cairns's Minority

Clause. It is warmly opposed by Mr. Bright.—The Reform Bill passes.-

Its general Character

231

CHAPTER VIII.

IRISH QUESTIONS–1866-68.

Mr. Bright's Advocacy of Irish Questions.-Disturbed Condition of Ireland in

1866.- The Coercion Bill.-Mr. Bright on the Irish People.-He appeals to

Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli to settle the Irish Question.-Renewal of

the Coercion Act.Mr. Bright on Mr. Roebuck.–Visit of the former to

Ireland.—Letter from Mr. John B. Dillon and The O'Donoghue.-Mr.

Bright's Speech at Dublin.—Arguments for Disestablishment and Land

Reform.-Eloquent Peroration.—The Ballot and the Electoral System.-

Scheme for the sale of Land in Ireland.-Mr. Bright at Birmingham.- Irish

Reforms.–Irish Debate in the House of Commons. Mr. Maguire's Motion.

-Speech of Mr. Bright. He examines the Government Policy. His own

Plan for a Farmer Proprietary.—Religious Equality in Ireland a Necessity.

-Outline of a Scheme for Disestablishment.--Important Declaration by

Mr. Gladstone.-Mr. Maguire withdraws his Motion.-Mr. Gladstone intro-

duces his Irish Church Resolutions.-Prolonged Debate.- Powerful Speech

by Mr. Bright in support of the Resolutions.-Mr. Gladstone's Motion carried

by a large majority.-Ministers advise a Dissolution.—Their Conduct is

severely condemned.—Meeting in St. James's Hall against Disestablishment.

-The Irish Church Resolutions carried in the House of Commons. Mr.

Bright sternly rebukes Mr. Disraeli.—The Irish Church Suspensory Bill

introduced.-It passes the Commons, but is rejected by the Lords.-Mr.

Bright advocates Disestablishment at Liverpool.–Justice to Ireland.--He

visits Ireland in 1868.-Speech at Limerick.- The General Election.-Great

Liberal Majority.-Mr. Gladstone becomes Premier

266

CHAPTER IX.

DISESTABLISHMENT AND THE LAND QUESTION.

Mr. Gladstone introduces his Irish Church Bill.-Provisions of the Measure.-

Debate on the Second Reading.- Powerful Speech by Mr. Bright.-Great

Majority for the Bill.–Debate on the Condition of Ireland. - Passage