arts are to be moved, it must be by this
speech.[143] _July 27th_.--Again went over and got up the subject
of opium compensation as it respects the Chinese. I spoke thereon
11/2 hours for the liberation of my conscience, and to afford the
friends of peace opposite an opportunity, of which they would not
avail themselves.

In August he tells Mrs. Gladstone how he has been to dine with 'such an
odd party at the Guizots'; Austin, radical lawyer; John Mill, radical
reviewer; M. Gaskell, Monckton Milnes, Thirlwall, new Bishop of St.
David's, George Lewis, poor law commissioner. Not very ill mixed,
however. The host is extremely nice.' An odd party indeed; it comprised
four at least of the strongest heads in England, and two of the most
illustrious names of all the century in Europe.

EXAMINER AT ETON

In March (1840) Mr. Gladstone and Lord Lyttelton went to Eton together
to fulfil the ambitious functions of examiner for the Newcastle
scholarship. In thanking Mr. Gladstone for his services, Hawtrey speaks
of the advantage of public men of his stamp undertaking such duties in
the good cause of the established system of education, 'as against the
nonsense of utilitarians and radicals.' The questions ran in the
familiar mould in divinity, niceties of ancient grammar, obscurities of
classical construction, caprices of vocabulary, and all the other points
of the old learning. The general merit Mr. Gladstone found 'beyond
anything possible or conceivable' when he was a boy at Eton a dozen
years before:--

We sit with the boys (39 in number) and make about ten hours a day
in looking over papers with great minuteness.... Although it is in
quantity hard work, it is lightened by a warm interest, and the
refreshment of early love upon a return to this sweet place. It is
work apart from human passion, and is felt as a moral relaxation,
though it is not one in any other sense.... This is a curious
experience to me, of jaded body and mind refreshed. I propose for
Latin theme a little sentence of Burke's which runs to this effect,
'Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver; and adulation
is not of more service to the people than to kings.' _April
2nd._--The statistics become excessively interesting. Henry Hallam
gained, and now stands second [the brother of his dead friend].
_April 3rd._--In, 6 hours; out, from 4 t