LIFE, LETTERS, AND

DIARIES

OF

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

FIRST EARL OF IDDESLEIGH

BY

ANDREW LANG

NEW EDITION

WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS

EDINBURGH AND LONDON

MDCCCXCI

All Rights reserved

942 G33

The family of Northcote-Ancestry-The first baronet in the Long

Parliament-Parentage of Sir Stafford Northcote-His Scottish

descent from the Cockburns-The "Border Widow "-Infancy

-Precocious love of books-First school-Early compositions-

Extract from a romance-Eton-Fights-Amusements-Friend-

ships-Return from sport to study-Goes up for the Balliol

Scholarship-His success on the river-Reads with Mr Shirley

-Religious opinions,

1

CHAPTER II.

OXFORD.

The Balliol of sixty years ago-Election to a scholarship-Arthur

Clough-Influence of Mr Edward Irving-Letters on Irvingism

-Religious opinions-Undergraduate diversions-The boat-race

-Reading for the Schools-The examination-Success-A First

in Classical Schools, a Third in Mathematics-Departure from

Oxford-A letter on Irvingism-A Latin dispute-Thoughts on

public affairs—Becomes private secretary to Mr Gladstone-

Letter to Mr Northcote, .

17

CHAPTER III.

ENTRY ON POLITICAL LIFE.

Remarks on the aspect of politics-Secretaryship to Mr Gladstone-

Letters on marriage-Engagement to Miss Cecilia Farrer-Letter

on politics in general-His ideas-Official duties-Mr Gladstone's

candidature at Oxford-Northcote's work on the Navigation

Laws-The Chartist meeting-The Great Exhibition-His duties

as secretary of the Commission-Doubts as to choosing a rural

or official life-Succeeds to the baronetcy-His health impaired

-Letters, .

CHAPTER IV.

BEGINNING OF HIS PARLIAMENTARY CAREER.

Change of Government-Aversion to the Whigs-Election address

at Exeter-Mr Gladstone's Oxford seat-Political ideas-Civil

Service Commission-Learning elocution from Mr Wigan—The

Crimean war-Candidature at Dudley-Enters Parliament-Mr

Disraeli-Maiden speech-Familiar letters-Lord John Russell,

61

CHAPTER V.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS.

Interest in reformatory schools-Sketch of their history-The school

at Pynes-Alarm of the neighbourhood - Gale, Burns, and

Sparks-Anecdotes-Later work in reformatory schools -- His

bill, "the omnibus "-Success of the bill,

CHAPTER VI.

PARLIAMENTARY WORK.

His position as a party man-The Kars debate-The "Jew Bill"
-End of session-Relations with Lord Ward-Mr Gladstone
and Mr Disraeli-The Chinese question-Determines to stand
for North Devon-Defeat-Withdrawal to Paris-Offer of a
place in Conservative Government-Early views of Mr Disraeli
-Elected at Stamford-Financial secretary to Treasury-Mr
Disraeli's Reform Bill-Defeat of his party-Letter on policy of