in this country, to allay what is brewing here-a storm for changes, especially for Reform in Parliament.' 22 Denman felt that the time was come for resuming an active part in political life. He resolved to stand for Nottingham, in compliance with a very influential requisition, and was returned with triumphant success.2 23 Mr. Walton in his Random Recollections of the Midland Circuit' has given a graphic sketch of Denman's electioneering prowess, and of his popularity at this time, with the people of Nottingham. The assizes for Nottingham were being held at the very time the election was on, and while in court Denman was informed of the retirement of his opponent [Mr. Bailey]. Speedily divesting himself of his wig and gown, he hurried to the Exchange Rooms in Nottingham's famous marketplace, from a window of which building he addressed a multitude, in number many thousands. There is no doubt Denman was always a great favourite with the constituency of Nottingham. On the occasion alluded to, the writer, being in the crowd, was attracted by, and much struck with, the appearance of an old man some eighty years at least, his head bare, and his grey locks hanging down the sides of his face, while, with his hands clasped on his breast, he was gazing intently on Denman, whose nervous eloquence was pouring through the great assemblage of persons with thrilling effect; and there was that old man, his hands held in the manner I have described, while, with tears streaming down his cheeks, he kept calling out, God bless him! God bless him!' 24 6 22 Letter to Lady Bankes, August 19, 1830. Twiss's 'Memoirs, vol. iii. p. 115. their opponent, 23 His colleague was General Sir R. C. Fergusson; Mr. T. Bailey, a local wine merchant, only polled 226 votes. 24 First series, pp. 15, 16. Mr. Walton also describes with much effect an evening meeting of the Nottingham lambs at the 'Durham It was now that his illustrious friend, Henry Brougham, won the crowning glory of his life, and after a canvass which was itself a miracle of superhuman activity, became one of the members for the great county of York. Denman, writing to his wife from the midst of his own contest at Nottingham, says, in reference to this great achievement, Brougham is making a wonderful progress through Yorkshire-travelling 100 miles and making speeches to 70,000 people a day.' Brougham himself, in his 'Memoirs,' thus describes his own just exultation at his great victory. I may say, without hyperbole, that, when as knight of the shire I was begirt with the sword, it was the proudest moment of my life. My return to Parliament by the greatest and most wealthy constituency in England was the highest compliment ever paid to a public man. I felt that I had earned it by the good I had done, and that I had gained it by no base or unworthy acts.' 25 Denman, shortly after his return for Nottingham, on August 25, 1830, wrote a letter to his old friend. Merivale, containing, among other things, his views, or rather his doubts, as to vote by Ballot, a subject to which recent legislation has given some degree of fresh interest. Touching the Ballot [he writes] it surely would effect no Ox,' at which Denman smoked an Alderman (long clay) pipe, and at the particular request of his humble friends sang, with vast applause, a song, the burden of which was ""Sessions" and "sizes "" 95 Memoirs,' vol. iii. p. 42. great improvement at Old Sarum; probably none in any place where the number of voters falls short of 300, because in such places concealment would hardly be practicable. The substantial benefits are expected, I presume, in counties and in borough constituencies really popular; bribery would be avoided in the latter, undue influence in both. This result, however, appears to me very doubtful. Bribes would be given for promises, and those promises would generally be kept; the moralist, indeed, asserts the converse, but I believe that, as a rule, they would be kept, from the superior strength of the rude point of honour as a motive to the public spirit of the bribed promiser. The friends of the ballot assume that bribes would never be offered, on account of the uncertainty. It requires much more reasoning to convince me of this. In numerous cases there would practically be no uncertainty, for the great majority would make no secret of their own votes, proudly rejecting all disguise, and feeling it a duty to avow their political course. Thus the field for speculation might be so narrowed as to convert surmises into confident, often just, opinions on the votes actually given the same thing may be said of undue influence. belong to the very nature of debasing and vicious train. Serious evils of another kind ballot-deception, with all its The apparent taking for granted that public duty must give way to private interest, which is not true, would be justly resented in the case of jurymen, magistrates, &c. The Duke of Newcastle's vengeance, inflicted by guess work, instead of proceeding from knowledge, would involve the painful sensation of seeing your neighbour ejected for your vote, which he is suspected of having given. If it is answered that in order to baffle speculation all would keep secret their votes, the thing is impossible. Most men's line would be known from the whole tenor of their lives, unless hypocrisy is to be always at work, and the good cause would lose the benefit of being countenanced by respected and enlightened men. These objections have passed through my mind: all may receive a satisfactory answer in some clever and comprehensive argument which may have been published. Having as yet met with nothing of the kind I am only feeling my way. Meanwhile, it seems to me that the public mind is running away with a strong opinion respecting a very complex and difficult subject without due discussion, and looking to only one of its numerous bearings, as to which I strongly suspect that everything is assumed. If there is such an argument as I have alluded to, I should be much obliged by your sending it. Has Herman 26 made up his mind on it? I am really open to conviction; and, moreover, though unconvinced, if the great mass of the tenantry and artizans of England call for the Ballot as a protection against oppressive interference, no theoretical doubts ought to prevent them from having the experiment tried. 26 Merivale's eldest son, the present Permanent Under-Secretary for India. Mr. Herman Merivale had taken his first class in Classics at Oxford in 1827, and the Chancellor's prize for the English Essay in 1830; he was called to the Bar on November 16, 1832. 315 CHAPTER XVIII. LORD GREY'S MINISTRY-SIR THOMAS DENMAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL. A.D. 1830 TO 1831. ET. 51 TO 52. Opening of the New Parliament, November 2, 1830-Brougham's notice of motion on Parliamentary Reform for November 16-The Duke of Wellington's declaration in the House of Lords against any reform in Parliament, November 2, 1830-Denman's first speech in the new Parliament, in debate on the Address, November 3-His reference to and condemnation of the Duke's declaration-Effect of the Duke's declaration-Panic in London-The police maltreated and the Duke himself mobbed-The King and Queen prevented from going to the Lord Mayor's banquet-Lord Macaulay's description of the panicDenman's speech on November 8, condemning the attacks on the police, and the outrage to the Duke-Peel's compliment to Denman on his speech-Denman's letter to Mrs. Wright of November 12, 1830 -He is of the 'young party '-Believes the Duke's position to be untenable-Had expected him to take up Parliamentary Reform as he had Catholic Emancipation-The Duke of Wellington resigns on November 16-Earl Grey's Ministry formed-Brougham, Chancellor -Denman, Attorney-General-Magnanimity of William IV. and its effects on Denman-His reference to it in the House of CommonsDenman's re-election for Nottingham-The Duke of Newcastle, in the House of Lords, complains of his speech on being re-elected—* Brougham explains, and the Duke takes nothing by his motionDenman's appointment as Attorney-General highly popular-Letter of congratulation from W. W. Pepys-Denman resigns the office of Common Serjeant-Thanks of the City for the manner in which he had discharged it-Testimony to the same effect of the Old Bailey Bar-Denman's opinion expressed in Parliament as to vote by Ballot, November 22, 1830-As to Lord (then Mr.) Campbell's bill for registration of deeds, December 16, 1830-Defence of Brougham from an attack by Sugden, and eulogies on him-Denman at close of 1830 and |