es. No sooner was the idea of such a tribute started than
liberal contributions came from all quarters, which enabled his friends
to present him with a sum of L80,000. Had he been inspired with personal
ambition, he might have entered upon the race of political advancement
with the prospect of attaining the highest official prizes. Lord John
Russell, who, soon after the repeal of the corn laws, succeeded Sir
Robert Peel as first minister, invited Cobden to join his government.
But he preferred keeping himself at liberty to serve his countrymen
unshackled by official ties, and declined the invitation. He withdrew
for a time from England. His first intention was to seek complete
seclusion in Egypt or Italy, to recover health and strength after his
long and exhausting labours. But his fame had gone forth throughout
Europe, and intimations reached him from many quarters that his voice
would be listened to everywhere with favour, in advocacy of the
doctrines to the triumph of which he had so much contributed at home.
Writing to a friend in July 1846, he says--"I am going to tell you of a
fresh project that has been brewing in my brain. I have given up all
idea of burying myself in Egypt or Italy. I am going on an agitating
tour through the continent of Europe." Then, referring to messages he
had received from influential persons in France, Prussia, Austria,
Russia and Spain to the effect mentioned above, he adds:--"Well, I will,
with God's assistance during the next twelve months, visit all the large
states of Europe, see their potentates or statesmen, and endeavour to
enforce those truths which have been irresistible at home. Why should I
rust in inactivity? If the public spirit of my countrymen affords me the
means of travelling as their missionary, I will be the first ambassador
from the people of this country to the nations of the continent. I am
impelled to this by an instinctive emotion such as has never deceived
me. I feel that I could succeed in making out a stronger case for the
prohibitive nations of Europe to compel them to adopt a freer system
than I had here to overturn our protection policy." This programme he
fulfilled. He visited in succession France, Spain, Italy, Germany and
Russia. He was received everywhere with marks of distinction and honour.
In many of the principal capitals he was invited to public banquets,
which afforded him an opportunity of propagating those principles of
which he was regarded as th