Untitled - Electric Scotland

1 64 LIFE OF ARCHBISHOP TAIT [CH. vi.
... As regards the political world, last night s display on the
part of Lord Derby seems to be regarded as a proof that he can
not keep his ground. He said in plain English that he would
restore protection if he could get a majority in favour of it, but
not propose it if he could not. This is simply to disgust both
parties. The farmers will clamour and not be satisfied at his hold
ing it back ; and the other parties Whig, Peelite, and Radical-
will be thoroughly alarmed by the prospect of his threatening pro
tection in the distance."
"Draper s Hotel, Sackville Street, Sunday, 2^th Feby. 1852.-
. . . This afternoon I went as usual to Lincoln s Inn and heard
Maurice. He is preaching a course of sermons on the Prophets
-to-day on Hosea. He dwelt very forcibly on the way in which
his family distress from the misconduct of his wife was an
emblem to him of God s feelings with regard to Israel, and how the
even of the
distress also was a preparation to him, as all sufferings
most harassing kind may be, for his great office. I walked home
with Wood. . . . He is now a barrister, and tells me that he looks
forward all the week to these sermons of Maurice s on the Sunday.
... I think I hardly did justice to Lord Derby s speech in my
letter yesterday I was speaking only of its political aspect for
certainly it had a good tone in the end of it, which it is very
a char
pleasant to find in statesmen. He is too straightforward
acter to assume what he does not feel, and he certainly spoke
which had come to
very pleasingly of the deep responsibilities
him. It is a pity that so fine a fellow should have put himself
at the head of so hopeless a movement, and not have stuck to
his early opinions. A good man in power may do much if he
understands the feelings and wants of the age, but he is simply
mischievous if he is vainly trying to thwart them instead of giving
them a right direction."
The following reference possesses an interest of its own.
Rich additions were to be made both to the associations
and to the beauty of Lambeth Palace Chapel
before the
close of Archibald Tait s connection with it, thirty years
later.
"March 8, 1851. I enjoyed dining at Lambeth yester
day. There was no one present but the family, and Johnson,