urne was Prime Minister--the handsomest, the most
cultivated, the most courteous gentleman that ever figured in a Royal
Court. For his young mistress he had a loyal love, whilst she, young and
inexperienced, naturally turned to him as her guide, philosopher and
friend. The Whigs were in office, but not in power. The popular
excitement that had carried the Reform Bill had died away, and the
Ministry had rendered itself especially unpopular by a new Poor-Law Bill,
a bold, a praiseworthy, a successful attempt to deal with the growing
demoralisation of the agricultural population. Lord Melbourne was at
that time the only possible Premier. "I have no small talk," said the
Iron Duke, "and Peel has no manners," and few men had such grace and
chivalry as Lord Melbourne, then a childless widower in his manhood's
prime. He swore a good deal, as all fine gentlemen did in the early days
of Queen Victoria. One day Mr. Denison, afterwards Lord Ossington,
encountered Lord Melbourne as he was about to mount his horse, and called
attention to some required modification in the new Poor-Law Bill. Lord
Melbourne referred him to his brother George. "I have been with him,"
was the reply, "but he damned me, and damned the Bill, and damned the
paupers." "Well, damn it, what more could he do?" was the rejoinder.
And in East Anglia there was a good deal of swearing among the gentry. I
can remember an ancient peer who had been brought up in the Navy, who
resided in the Eastern Counties, and who somehow or other had been
prevailed upon to attend as chairman at a meeting of the local Bible
Society. I have forgotten the greater part of the noble Lord's speech,
but I well remember how his Lordship not a little shocked some of his
hearers by finishing up with the remark--that the Bible Society was a
damned good Society, and ought to be damned well supported. Another
noble Lord, of Norfolk, had some fair daughters, who distinguished
themselves in the hunting field, where they had a habit of swearing as
terribly as an army in Flanders. In this respect we have changed for the
better; ladies never swear now.

In politics bribery and corruption and drunkenness everywhere prevailed.
It was impossible to fight an election with clean hands. In 1837 there
was an election at Norwich; the late Right Hon. W. E. Forster has left us
a good account of it. "Went to the nomination of city candidates this
morning. The nomination was at eight. Went in w