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and the intimate friends left the house, a touching incident, which Mr. Bright himself has preserved, occurred. 'Standing by me,' he said, in the address from which we have already quoted, and leaning on the coffin, was his sorrowing daughter, one whose attachment to her father seems to have been a passion scarcely equalled amongst daughters. She said, "My father used to like me very much to read to him the Sermon on the Mount." His own life was to a large extent I speak it with reverence and with hesitation -a sermon based upon that best, that greatest of all sermons. His was a life of perpetual self-sacrifice.'

The funeral was conducted with a total absence of parade and pomp. A plain hearse, followed by four plain mourning coaches, constituted the whole cortège, the remaining carriages being those which had brought the London visitors from the station, or those of friends and neighbours. At the entrance to the churchyard the coffin was taken from the hearse, the pall was thrown over it, and the mourners ranged themselves on each side. The pall was borne by twelve of the deceased's political and personal friends-viz., Mr. Bright, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Villiers, Mr. George Wilson, Mr. Milner Gibson, Mr. Moffatt, Mr. T. B. Potter, Mr. A. W. Paulton, Mr. H. Ashworth, Mr. Bazley, Mr. W. Evans, and Mr. T. Thomasson. Besides the members of Mr. Cobden's family, and private mourners, there were also present Lords Alfred and Clarence Paget, Lord Kinnaird, Sir C. Wentworth Dilke, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Ewart, Mr. Stansfeld, Sir J.

VOL. II

12

Shelley, Mr. W. E. Forster, Sir F. Crossley, Sir Colman O'Loghlen, Mr. E. Baines, Sir S. M. Peto, Sir P. O'Brien, Sir Robert Clifton, Mr. Shaw Lefevre, Mr. P. A. Taylor, Mr. E. Miall, Prof. Fawcett, the Rev. Newman Hall, Mr. Samuel Morley, Mr. Robertson Gladstone, Dr. Hook (Dean of Chichester), Mr. Elihu Burritt, and Mr. Adams, the American Minister.

After the service in the church, the coffin was borne to the grave, the scene here being most impressive. The concluding portion of the burial service was now read by the Rev. Mr. Currie, with an emotion which was evidently felt by the whole of the mourners and distinguished circle that stood around. Mr. Bright was overcome with grief, and wept almost aloud; other friends standing by his side were also deeply moved; and Mr. Gladstone's pale face wore an expression of sad and deepened gravity as with much earnestness he followed the clergyman from his prayer-book. As the solemn words Ashes to ashes, dust to dust' were pronounced, and the handful of earth was heard to rattle on the coffin-lid, there was a rush of friends to the opening of the vault, and a struggle to catch a farewell look at what was about to be shut in from them for ever. The mourners then turned from the scene, and the funeral of one of the world's benefactors

was over.

But, save for the members of Cobden's own family, he who felt the keenest anguish that day was the

statesman who had been the close companion of the dead in his great and arduous labours. Not always, in the presence of the dead-though they may have been good, wise, and illustrious-can men rise to that calm height wherein they perceive the blessedness of death, and can say, 'They rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.' Mr. Bright must have felt this on the death of Richard Cobden. A strong tie had been broken, a strong bond of affection and sympathy been snapped asunder. Where two had journeyed together, and taken counsel together, one was henceforth to travel alone.

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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 Palmerston.— 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.-Meeting at Manchester.-Enthusiastic Reception of Mr. Bright.-He visits Leeds and Glasgow. Stirring Addresses on the Reform Question.

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T was naturally to be expected that when Lord Russell acceded to office upon the death of Lord Palmerston, towards the close of 1865, the question of Reform would be dealt with, and that in no perfunctory spirit. Lord Derby twitted the new Prime Minister with his old character of Finality John,' scencing that he had always understood he would not was overth settlement of 1832; but Lord Russell

But, save for that a further and a large extension of he who felt ths inevitable. This question of Parlia

mentary Reform was one of great difficulty, and many predicted that it would involve the fate of the Administration; but the Russell Ministry lost no time in avowing that they considered the immediate proposal of such a measure was due to their own consistency, to the just expectations of the country, and, moreover, to the obligations of political morality. The Reform struggle which now ensued is a memorable one in our political and Parliamentary annals; it gave rise to a display of eloquence on both sides of the House of Commons unsurpassed even during the great historic period of 1832.

Before dealing with the measure of the RussellGladstone Government, however, there are some preliminary events which demand our attention. In January, 1865, Mr. Bright paid a visit to his constituents at Birmingham, being received with remarkable enthusiasm. On the 2nd the new Birmingham Exchange was opened. The hon. member, speaking at the luncheon subsequently given, expressed his belief that manufacturers and merchants, as a rule, had generally been either too modest or not sufficiently acquainted with their true position. From the commercial classes, and not from monarchs or great lords of the soil, had come whatever there was of social, or civil, or religious freedom to the inhabitants of this country. My opinion is,' he added, 'looking at the course of history, that merchants and manufacturers, in the aggregate, are gradually becoming much more important in the world than

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