Goulburn made only one change to the cabinet. He promoted John Charles Herries from Master of the Mint to the cabinet as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Herries had been Chancellor in George Canning's government from September 1827 to January 1828. Herries was a strong protectionist and opposed to any repeal of the Corn Laws.
Striving for a world transformed by justice and peace - a TL from 1827
- Thread starter pipisme
- Start date
Other changes Henry Goulburn made to his government:
William Bingham Baring from Secretary to the Board of Control to Master of the Mint. (1)
John Manners-Sutton from Under-Secretary at the Home Office to Secretary to the Board of Control.
Richard Monkton Milnes joined the government as Under-Secretary at the Home Office.
Up to the beginning of March 1831 the life of Benjamin Disraeli had kept on the same path as in OTL. At the end of the previous month he and James Clay, his travelling companion, had arrived in Jerusalem as part of their Grand Tour. They stayed in Jerusalem for a week. It was a deeply memorable experience for Disraeli, as it was in OTL, but in this TL he experienced a profound conversion to the Jewish religion - the religion of his ancestors. His father, Isaac D'Israeli, had Benjamin baptised into the Church of England at the age of 12 in 1817, although Benjamin's Christianity was a matter of form, not conviction.
On March 12 Disraeli and Clay arrived in Alexandria, where they were joined by William Meredith, a mutual friend. In OTL Disraeli stayed for several months in Egypt. In this TL he returned to England and London as quickly as possible.
When he returned to London he renounced his baptism and declared himself to be a practising Jew. He joined the Congregation of Bevis Marks. Although not particularly devout, he followed the dietary laws and kept the Sabbath and high days and holy days of Judaism.
In September 1831 he published a pamphlet attacking the oath sworn by members of Parliament which contained the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". It therefore excluded Jews who were not prepared to take the oath.
A radical in his political opinions, in the following months he published more political pamphlets and wrote articles for newspapers and magazines. He was getting noticed in Whig political circles and as a result of networking he was nominated as a Whig candidate in a Tory constituency in the general election of December 1832.
He was very much on the radical wing of the Whig Party. In his election campaign he advocated the secret ballot, triennial parliaments, repeal of the paper duties which kept the price of printed material high, repeal of the 'Christian' clause in the parliamentary oath, abolition of tithes to the Church of England, improvement in the standard of living of the working classes, and repeal of the Corn Laws. He was unsuccessful in the election.
In 1833 his novel, The Wondrous Tale of Alroy was published, as in OTL. This was a tale about the twelfth-century Jewish hero, David Alroy.
In June 1834 he met Lord Durham, the 'Radical Earl', at a dinner party in London, where he seems to have made a good impression. As he did in OTL.
In November 1834 King William IV dismissed Lord Melbourne and appointed Sir Robert Peel as Prime Minister. With a general election expected soon, Disraeli made overtures to Durham to secure him a candidature in a winable Whig seat. As it was Sir William Horne, one of the two Whig members for the double-member constituency of Marylebone in north-west London, and one time Attorney-General, was not standing for re-election, and Disraeli received the nomination. (2)
In the general election of January to February 1835, Disraeli, standing on a radical platform, was elected as one of the two Whig members for Marylebone.
(1) The Board of Control was the department responsible for policy towards India and was headed by a President. The Secretary was the junior minister.
(2) The constituency comprised the future boroughs in OTL of Hampstead, Paddington, St. Marylebone and St. Pancras. Here is a map showing the constituency in 1868, though it had the same boundaries in 1835 in OTL and this TL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marylebone1868.png .
William Bingham Baring from Secretary to the Board of Control to Master of the Mint. (1)
John Manners-Sutton from Under-Secretary at the Home Office to Secretary to the Board of Control.
Richard Monkton Milnes joined the government as Under-Secretary at the Home Office.
Up to the beginning of March 1831 the life of Benjamin Disraeli had kept on the same path as in OTL. At the end of the previous month he and James Clay, his travelling companion, had arrived in Jerusalem as part of their Grand Tour. They stayed in Jerusalem for a week. It was a deeply memorable experience for Disraeli, as it was in OTL, but in this TL he experienced a profound conversion to the Jewish religion - the religion of his ancestors. His father, Isaac D'Israeli, had Benjamin baptised into the Church of England at the age of 12 in 1817, although Benjamin's Christianity was a matter of form, not conviction.
On March 12 Disraeli and Clay arrived in Alexandria, where they were joined by William Meredith, a mutual friend. In OTL Disraeli stayed for several months in Egypt. In this TL he returned to England and London as quickly as possible.
When he returned to London he renounced his baptism and declared himself to be a practising Jew. He joined the Congregation of Bevis Marks. Although not particularly devout, he followed the dietary laws and kept the Sabbath and high days and holy days of Judaism.
In September 1831 he published a pamphlet attacking the oath sworn by members of Parliament which contained the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". It therefore excluded Jews who were not prepared to take the oath.
A radical in his political opinions, in the following months he published more political pamphlets and wrote articles for newspapers and magazines. He was getting noticed in Whig political circles and as a result of networking he was nominated as a Whig candidate in a Tory constituency in the general election of December 1832.
He was very much on the radical wing of the Whig Party. In his election campaign he advocated the secret ballot, triennial parliaments, repeal of the paper duties which kept the price of printed material high, repeal of the 'Christian' clause in the parliamentary oath, abolition of tithes to the Church of England, improvement in the standard of living of the working classes, and repeal of the Corn Laws. He was unsuccessful in the election.
In 1833 his novel, The Wondrous Tale of Alroy was published, as in OTL. This was a tale about the twelfth-century Jewish hero, David Alroy.
In June 1834 he met Lord Durham, the 'Radical Earl', at a dinner party in London, where he seems to have made a good impression. As he did in OTL.
In November 1834 King William IV dismissed Lord Melbourne and appointed Sir Robert Peel as Prime Minister. With a general election expected soon, Disraeli made overtures to Durham to secure him a candidature in a winable Whig seat. As it was Sir William Horne, one of the two Whig members for the double-member constituency of Marylebone in north-west London, and one time Attorney-General, was not standing for re-election, and Disraeli received the nomination. (2)
In the general election of January to February 1835, Disraeli, standing on a radical platform, was elected as one of the two Whig members for Marylebone.
(1) The Board of Control was the department responsible for policy towards India and was headed by a President. The Secretary was the junior minister.
(2) The constituency comprised the future boroughs in OTL of Hampstead, Paddington, St. Marylebone and St. Pancras. Here is a map showing the constituency in 1868, though it had the same boundaries in 1835 in OTL and this TL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marylebone1868.png .
pipisme
I know Britain was one of the more liberal states at this time but I doubt that I could see the removal of the restriction on house members being avowed Christians at this time so it sounds like Britain is going to lose both Gladstone and Disraeli as major political figures.
Also this is, no butterflies interfering, just after the 1st Reform Act passes so those coming into economic power, the new middle classes, have to a degree had their desires saked so I think it unlikely that there will be the appetite for further reform in the near turn. Sounds more like Dizzy could end up as an ally with the Chartists, although I doubt if he could make a difference to the campaign. [Would be great if he did get earlier and fuller reform in Britain, especially at that time period when it could be very effective.
]
Steve
I know Britain was one of the more liberal states at this time but I doubt that I could see the removal of the restriction on house members being avowed Christians at this time so it sounds like Britain is going to lose both Gladstone and Disraeli as major political figures.
Also this is, no butterflies interfering, just after the 1st Reform Act passes so those coming into economic power, the new middle classes, have to a degree had their desires saked so I think it unlikely that there will be the appetite for further reform in the near turn. Sounds more like Dizzy could end up as an ally with the Chartists, although I doubt if he could make a difference to the campaign. [Would be great if he did get earlier and fuller reform in Britain, especially at that time period when it could be very effective.
]Steve
Here is an account of attempts to change the law to allow Jews elected as MPs to take the oath and sit in the House of Commons: http://www.rothschildarchive.org/ib/?doc=/ib/articles/BW4aTimeline .
After the general election Parliament met on 19 February 1835. During the following days MPs took the oath. On 20 February Disraeli went to the House of Commons to take his seat. He refused to take the oath on the Bible and asked to take it on the Old Testament. After debate this was allowed. He then took the oath omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". He is required to leave the chamber.
After the general election Parliament met on 19 February 1835. During the following days MPs took the oath. On 20 February Disraeli went to the House of Commons to take his seat. He refused to take the oath on the Bible and asked to take it on the Old Testament. After debate this was allowed. He then took the oath omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". He is required to leave the chamber.
pipisme
Interesting. Never realised that. Sounds like, as so often, it was the Lords that was the barrier to progress. If they can get an earlier decision on the split oaths between each house and the Lords accept that then we could possibly get a fair early solution, rather than having it drag out til ~57. Possibly Dizzy could come up with such an idea earlier.
I would say however that even with such a change allowing him to become a MP there would be enough mistrust and discrimination that he will never make the leap to becoming PM. Although he could have a considerable career in the house and probably the cabinet. I just don't see the Tories and their party support being willing to have him as a leader. [Unless you're considering he switches party, although even then I'm not sure how much difference there was in the Whigs}.
Steve
Interesting. Never realised that. Sounds like, as so often, it was the Lords that was the barrier to progress. If they can get an earlier decision on the split oaths between each house and the Lords accept that then we could possibly get a fair early solution, rather than having it drag out til ~57. Possibly Dizzy could come up with such an idea earlier.
I would say however that even with such a change allowing him to become a MP there would be enough mistrust and discrimination that he will never make the leap to becoming PM. Although he could have a considerable career in the house and probably the cabinet. I just don't see the Tories and their party support being willing to have him as a leader. [Unless you're considering he switches party, although even then I'm not sure how much difference there was in the Whigs}.
Steve
In early March 1835 a Jewish Disabilities Bill to enable Jewish MPs to take the parliamentary oath was introduced in the House of Commons by Thomas Duncombe, the radical MP for the London constituency of Finsbury. It was passed by the Whig majority in that House. In April it was rejected by the House of Lords. The opponents of the bill argued that Jewish should not have the right to legislate for a Christian nation.
In May 1835 Disraeli resigned his Marylebone seat and contested it in the subsequent by-election. He stood as a radical Whig candidate on the issues of religious and political liberty and for the repeal of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. (1) In the general election of January-February 1835 the electorate in Marylebone was 7,753 which was high for the time, and made it a comparatively democratic constituency. (2) Disraeli won the by-election by a good, but not large, majority over his Tory opponent.
Disraeli went to the House of Commons and took the oath on the Old Testament, omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". As previously, he was required to leave the chamber.
In June 1835 Thomas Duncombe again introduces a Jewish Disabilities Bill which is passed by the House of Commons, and rejected by the House of Lords.
Disraeli decided not to resign his seat and fight the by-election. Of course he was still a member of parliament. In July 1835 he published a pamphlet with the title Jewish Emancipation and Political Liberty, which was a great success in liberal and radical circles.
From 1833 Disraeli had written articles for the radical quarterly the Westminster Review. In October 1835 he became co-editor with Thomas Perronet Thompson.
In June 1836 he married Anna Maria Goldsmid, the daughter of Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, a prominent member of the Jewish community, and his wife Isabel. Isaac Goldsmid campaigned strongly for Jewish emancipation.
The Disraelis were never blessed with children. It is widely thought that this was because Benjamin Disraeli caught gonorrhea during his Grand Tour of Europe and the Middle East in 1830-1831, and this made him infertile. He didn't have any children in OTL for the same reason.
On 19 June 1837 King William IV died, as in OTL. The death of the monarch automatically caused a general election. Disraeli would have to decide whether he would contest the election and try to retain his Marylebone seat. After consulting with his wife, Sarah, his sister, father-in-law and other leading members of the Jewish community, and prominent radicals, he decided to contest the general election which was held from 24 July-18 August 1837. He was elected as the radical Whig member for Marylebone.
The new Parliament did not meet until November. Disraeli took the oath on the Old Testament, omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". As previously, he was required to leave the chamber of the House of Commons.
On 5 December, Lord John Russell, the Home Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons, proposed the formation of a select committee to consider the question of Jewish members of parliament.
(1) For the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 see http://www.victorianweb.org/history/poorlaw/plaatext.html.
(2) Source: British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, F.W.S. Craig, for 7,752 plus Disraeli himself.
In May 1835 Disraeli resigned his Marylebone seat and contested it in the subsequent by-election. He stood as a radical Whig candidate on the issues of religious and political liberty and for the repeal of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. (1) In the general election of January-February 1835 the electorate in Marylebone was 7,753 which was high for the time, and made it a comparatively democratic constituency. (2) Disraeli won the by-election by a good, but not large, majority over his Tory opponent.
Disraeli went to the House of Commons and took the oath on the Old Testament, omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". As previously, he was required to leave the chamber.
In June 1835 Thomas Duncombe again introduces a Jewish Disabilities Bill which is passed by the House of Commons, and rejected by the House of Lords.
Disraeli decided not to resign his seat and fight the by-election. Of course he was still a member of parliament. In July 1835 he published a pamphlet with the title Jewish Emancipation and Political Liberty, which was a great success in liberal and radical circles.
From 1833 Disraeli had written articles for the radical quarterly the Westminster Review. In October 1835 he became co-editor with Thomas Perronet Thompson.
In June 1836 he married Anna Maria Goldsmid, the daughter of Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, a prominent member of the Jewish community, and his wife Isabel. Isaac Goldsmid campaigned strongly for Jewish emancipation.
The Disraelis were never blessed with children. It is widely thought that this was because Benjamin Disraeli caught gonorrhea during his Grand Tour of Europe and the Middle East in 1830-1831, and this made him infertile. He didn't have any children in OTL for the same reason.
On 19 June 1837 King William IV died, as in OTL. The death of the monarch automatically caused a general election. Disraeli would have to decide whether he would contest the election and try to retain his Marylebone seat. After consulting with his wife, Sarah, his sister, father-in-law and other leading members of the Jewish community, and prominent radicals, he decided to contest the general election which was held from 24 July-18 August 1837. He was elected as the radical Whig member for Marylebone.
The new Parliament did not meet until November. Disraeli took the oath on the Old Testament, omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian". As previously, he was required to leave the chamber of the House of Commons.
On 5 December, Lord John Russell, the Home Secretary and Leader of the House of Commons, proposed the formation of a select committee to consider the question of Jewish members of parliament.
(1) For the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 see http://www.victorianweb.org/history/poorlaw/plaatext.html.
(2) Source: British Parliamentary Election Results 1832-1885, F.W.S. Craig, for 7,752 plus Disraeli himself.
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The Select Committee of the House of Commons to consider the question of the parliamentary oath and Jewish MPs met in February 1838. Joseph Pease, a Whig member, said that when he was elected for South Durham in 1832, because he was a Quaker and would not swear the required oath, he was not allowed to take his seat. A special committee considered the question and decided that he could affirm rather than swear. This showed that the Commons had the right to allow any member who had been elected to take their seat.
Richard Lalor Sheil, Whig MP for County Tipperary, said that as he had fought for Catholic Emancipation, so he will fight as passionately for Jewish Emancipation. He proposed that a resolution be tabled which would permit an MP to omit the words "upon the true faith of a Christian" from the parliamentary oath. The Commons would debate and vote on this resolution. This was agreed to by a majority of the committee. Only a few Tories voted against.
The House of Commons debated the resolution on 22 and 23 February 1838. It was proposed by Lord John Russell, the Home Secretary and Leader of the House. He said that it was wrong that a person who had been properly elected should be excluded because they were Jewish. He said that while theoretically the resolution permitted any non-Christian, such as a Muslim or a Hindu, or even an atheist to take their seat, in practise it would only apply to Jews.
The opposition was led by Sir Robert Inglis, the Tory MP for Oxford University. Basically he did not want Jews in the House of Commons. He objected to non-Christians legislating for a Christian nation.
The resolution was passed by 393 votes to 67. Only die hard Tories voted against.
On 24 February Disraeli swore the parliamentary oath on a copy of the Old Testament, omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian", and took his seat on the government side of the House.
Richard Lalor Sheil, Whig MP for County Tipperary, said that as he had fought for Catholic Emancipation, so he will fight as passionately for Jewish Emancipation. He proposed that a resolution be tabled which would permit an MP to omit the words "upon the true faith of a Christian" from the parliamentary oath. The Commons would debate and vote on this resolution. This was agreed to by a majority of the committee. Only a few Tories voted against.
The House of Commons debated the resolution on 22 and 23 February 1838. It was proposed by Lord John Russell, the Home Secretary and Leader of the House. He said that it was wrong that a person who had been properly elected should be excluded because they were Jewish. He said that while theoretically the resolution permitted any non-Christian, such as a Muslim or a Hindu, or even an atheist to take their seat, in practise it would only apply to Jews.
The opposition was led by Sir Robert Inglis, the Tory MP for Oxford University. Basically he did not want Jews in the House of Commons. He objected to non-Christians legislating for a Christian nation.
The resolution was passed by 393 votes to 67. Only die hard Tories voted against.
On 24 February Disraeli swore the parliamentary oath on a copy of the Old Testament, omitting the words "upon the true faith of a Christian", and took his seat on the government side of the House.
In the House of Commons Disraeli allied with the radical section of the Whig Party. He attacked the inhumanity and brutality of the new Poor Law and condemned the substitution of centralised relief for the old system based on local administration. The new syatem had the great advantage of being cheaper than the old, which was why the Tories and most Whigs supported it. In 1840 he was one of five members who opposed the harsh treatment given to some of the Chartist leaders, as he did in OTL.
Disreali had for several years taken a keen interest in Indian affairs. From 1815 there had been two schools of thought on the question of Westernization. The Whigs believed that it was Britain's duty to introduce Western institutions and ro 'civilise' India. Thomas Maculay who served on the Governor-General's Council was a leading exponent of this policy. In his 1835 Minute on Education he argued that the aim of British policy should be to create a class of Indians who would be 'English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect'. He also scorned the 'entire native literature of India and Arabia' as not worth a single shelf of a good European library'. (1)
Disraeli believed that there was much of value in Indian culture and traditions, which should be respected. He also advocated the abolition of the East India Company. He wrote a series of articles on India which were published in the Westminster Review, of which he was co-editor, in 1839.
(1) These quotations are taken from the book Ideologies of the Raj by Thomas R. Metcalf, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Disreali had for several years taken a keen interest in Indian affairs. From 1815 there had been two schools of thought on the question of Westernization. The Whigs believed that it was Britain's duty to introduce Western institutions and ro 'civilise' India. Thomas Maculay who served on the Governor-General's Council was a leading exponent of this policy. In his 1835 Minute on Education he argued that the aim of British policy should be to create a class of Indians who would be 'English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect'. He also scorned the 'entire native literature of India and Arabia' as not worth a single shelf of a good European library'. (1)
Disraeli believed that there was much of value in Indian culture and traditions, which should be respected. He also advocated the abolition of the East India Company. He wrote a series of articles on India which were published in the Westminster Review, of which he was co-editor, in 1839.
(1) These quotations are taken from the book Ideologies of the Raj by Thomas R. Metcalf, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
When Lord John Russell became Prime Minister in October 1842 he offered Disraeli the junior ministerial post of Secretary to the Board of Control under Thomas Macaulay, the President of the Board, which was the department responsible for British government policy towards India. Disraeli considered whether or not he should accept. He strongly opposed Macaulay's elitist opinions on India, but on the other hand he was deeply interested in India and believed that if he accepted Russell's offer he would have some influence over the government's India policy. Also he hoped to develop contacts with Jewish communities in India. Besides he was politically ambitious. He wanted to get into the cabinet and accepting the junior ministerial post offered would advance that goal by several years. After consulting Anna, his wife, Sarah, his sister, and friends he decided to accept Russell's offer.
In November 1842 Disraeli had a crisis of conscience when Russell annexed Afghanistan and announced the continuing deployment of British troops in that country. He wrote a memorandum setting out his opposition to Russell's policy, but did not resign from the government. This decision damaged his credentials as a radical Whig.
When the Whigs were in opposition to the Conservative governments of Sir Robert Peel and Henry Goulburn from July 1843, Disraeli sat on the opposition Front Bench. In the general election of June/July 1843 he was re-elected as Whig member for Marylebone, though his Whig colleague in this two-member constituency was defeated by a Conservative in a very close contest.
In November 1842 Disraeli had a crisis of conscience when Russell annexed Afghanistan and announced the continuing deployment of British troops in that country. He wrote a memorandum setting out his opposition to Russell's policy, but did not resign from the government. This decision damaged his credentials as a radical Whig.
When the Whigs were in opposition to the Conservative governments of Sir Robert Peel and Henry Goulburn from July 1843, Disraeli sat on the opposition Front Bench. In the general election of June/July 1843 he was re-elected as Whig member for Marylebone, though his Whig colleague in this two-member constituency was defeated by a Conservative in a very close contest.
I will now leave British politics and return to William Gladstone in the United States. At the end of April 1841 he and Alice Haverly, his partner, and their three children were living in the Eudaimonia socialist community in southern Ohio.
Eudaimonia was a station on the Underground Railroad. In September 1837 William and Alice joined the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society. In May 1840 he became a lecturer with the Society, while continuing to teach in the community school. In the presidential election of 1840 he campaigned and voted for James Birney, the Liberty Party candidate. The anti-slavery newspaper The Philanthropist, published by Birney (1) was widely read in Eudaimonia.
(1) There was such a newspaper, published in OTL. James Birney became its publisher in 1836. See http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1428&nm=The-Philanthropist .
Eudaimonia was a station on the Underground Railroad. In September 1837 William and Alice joined the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society. In May 1840 he became a lecturer with the Society, while continuing to teach in the community school. In the presidential election of 1840 he campaigned and voted for James Birney, the Liberty Party candidate. The anti-slavery newspaper The Philanthropist, published by Birney (1) was widely read in Eudaimonia.
(1) There was such a newspaper, published in OTL. James Birney became its publisher in 1836. See http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1428&nm=The-Philanthropist .
At the beginning of June 1842 William Gladstone, Alice Haverly and their three children (Frances, Angelina and Robert) left the Eudaimonia community in southern Ohio and joined the Brook Farm Utopian Community in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. (1) For the previous year or so there had been growing tensions in Eudaimonia and by June 1842 it was falling apart.
After he moved to Brook Farm Gladstone became a speaker for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Articles which he had submitted for the New York Tribune were printed in that newspaper. It was founded and edited by Horace Greeley and was the leading abolitionist newspaper of the time. In March 1843 Greeley offered Gladstone a position as a full time writer on the Tribune. However that would mean moving to New York. Gladstone said he would discuss the matter with Alice first.
By now Alice's fervour for communal living was fading and she readily agreed to move to New York. So Gladstone accepted Greeley's offer of a job and he and Alice and their children moved to New York City. They found a house to rent in a middle class area of the city.
(1) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_Farm .
After he moved to Brook Farm Gladstone became a speaker for the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Articles which he had submitted for the New York Tribune were printed in that newspaper. It was founded and edited by Horace Greeley and was the leading abolitionist newspaper of the time. In March 1843 Greeley offered Gladstone a position as a full time writer on the Tribune. However that would mean moving to New York. Gladstone said he would discuss the matter with Alice first.
By now Alice's fervour for communal living was fading and she readily agreed to move to New York. So Gladstone accepted Greeley's offer of a job and he and Alice and their children moved to New York City. They found a house to rent in a middle class area of the city.
(1) See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brook_Farm .
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Erm, sorry to nitpick, but it sounds as if it might be 'falling apart'.
Thank you for pointing that out. I have corrected 'following' to 'falling'.
As I am posting on this thread I will use the opportunity to update on Arthur Hallam and Alfred Tennyson. In this TL Hallam married Tennyson's sister Emilia (known as Emilia within her family) in 1832. They had five children - three girls and two boys - during their marriage.
Hallam trained to be a solicitor, but he wanted to be a poet and essayist. In 1833 came a tragic event which had a profound effect on his life.
In that year Tennyson published his second book of poems, the most remembered of which was The Lady of Shalott. The unfavourable reviews and negative criticism which this book received from the critics plunged Tennyson into a deep depression. (1) In November 1833 he committed suicide by arsenic poison. He was twenty-four years old. Tennyson suffered from depression and there was a history of depression in his family. While of course we can never know how his poetic ability would have developed if he had lived, the consensus among literary scholars is that he had the potential to become a truly great poet. The Lady of Shalott is now a much loved poem and is regularly published in collections of poetry. It has been put to music and referenced in several songs.
Hallam was devastated by the suicide of the man he loved dearly. In an attempt to assuage his grief he wrote a very long poem entitled Grief and Resurrection, which was published in 1836. In it he paid tribute to his dead friend and described how his belief in Christ's Resurrection and forgiveness even for the sin of suicide enabled him to overcome his grief. It is too full of religious sentimentality for modern tastes, but it has several quotable phrases. It was a great success in the Victorian age.
One aspect of the poem which has given rise to much discussion and controversy is its supposedly homoerotic content. In the following lines Hallam expressed his love for Tennyson:
These lines have given rise to much inconclusive debate as to whether Hallam and Tennyson had a physical homosexual relationship, or whether their love was purely platonic. When the poem was published and in the 19th century, it was assumed that their relationship was purely platonic. Or that is what people wanted to assume.
Because of the popular success of Grief and Resurrection Hallam published several more collections of poems. Though attaining popular and critical success in his lifetime, he is now regarded as a poet of the second rank in talent and ability. He also wrote essays on classical and historical subjects. He died in 1886. His wife, Emilia, died the following year.
(1) In OTL Tennyson's second volume of poems was published in 1833. It included The Lady of Shalott. Its unfavourable reception discouraged him from writing poetry for ten years. He also suffered from depression and there was a family history of depression.
As I am posting on this thread I will use the opportunity to update on Arthur Hallam and Alfred Tennyson. In this TL Hallam married Tennyson's sister Emilia (known as Emilia within her family) in 1832. They had five children - three girls and two boys - during their marriage.
Hallam trained to be a solicitor, but he wanted to be a poet and essayist. In 1833 came a tragic event which had a profound effect on his life.
In that year Tennyson published his second book of poems, the most remembered of which was The Lady of Shalott. The unfavourable reviews and negative criticism which this book received from the critics plunged Tennyson into a deep depression. (1) In November 1833 he committed suicide by arsenic poison. He was twenty-four years old. Tennyson suffered from depression and there was a history of depression in his family. While of course we can never know how his poetic ability would have developed if he had lived, the consensus among literary scholars is that he had the potential to become a truly great poet. The Lady of Shalott is now a much loved poem and is regularly published in collections of poetry. It has been put to music and referenced in several songs.
Hallam was devastated by the suicide of the man he loved dearly. In an attempt to assuage his grief he wrote a very long poem entitled Grief and Resurrection, which was published in 1836. In it he paid tribute to his dead friend and described how his belief in Christ's Resurrection and forgiveness even for the sin of suicide enabled him to overcome his grief. It is too full of religious sentimentality for modern tastes, but it has several quotable phrases. It was a great success in the Victorian age.
One aspect of the poem which has given rise to much discussion and controversy is its supposedly homoerotic content. In the following lines Hallam expressed his love for Tennyson:
Then he went on for several lines comparing their love to the love between men in classical literature.
These lines have given rise to much inconclusive debate as to whether Hallam and Tennyson had a physical homosexual relationship, or whether their love was purely platonic. When the poem was published and in the 19th century, it was assumed that their relationship was purely platonic. Or that is what people wanted to assume.
Because of the popular success of Grief and Resurrection Hallam published several more collections of poems. Though attaining popular and critical success in his lifetime, he is now regarded as a poet of the second rank in talent and ability. He also wrote essays on classical and historical subjects. He died in 1886. His wife, Emilia, died the following year.
(1) In OTL Tennyson's second volume of poems was published in 1833. It included The Lady of Shalott. Its unfavourable reception discouraged him from writing poetry for ten years. He also suffered from depression and there was a family history of depression.
In August 1843 William Gladstone attended the Liberty Party convention held in Buffalo, New York, which nominated James G. Birney as its candidate for President in the 1844 presidential election. The result of that election was the same as in OTL with James Polk (Democrat) being elected President of the United States.
I am not going to write about the Mexican-American War, and the Texas War and the Oregon dispute with Great Britain which I find all so boring. Besides there are other excellent ATLs on this board for the period of Polk's presidency in OTL, or a Clay presidency. However in this TL the result of the election of 1848 will be different from OTL.
Gladstone and Alice Haverly and their children moved to a house on the fringes of the Washington Square district of New York. Alice was a committed believer in women's suffrage and spoke for that cause at meetings in New York City and surrounding towns.
In the 1844 presidential election Gladstone campaigned and voted for Birney and the Liberty Party ticket. Alice often told William that the Liberty Party were hypocrites for advocating the abolition of Negro slavery but did not campaign for the enfranchisement. To deny an adult the vote because of their gender was unjust as denying it because of their skin colour. By October 1844 William had come round to Alice's thinking on the issue of women's suffrage.
I am not going to write about the Mexican-American War, and the Texas War and the Oregon dispute with Great Britain which I find all so boring. Besides there are other excellent ATLs on this board for the period of Polk's presidency in OTL, or a Clay presidency. However in this TL the result of the election of 1848 will be different from OTL.
Gladstone and Alice Haverly and their children moved to a house on the fringes of the Washington Square district of New York. Alice was a committed believer in women's suffrage and spoke for that cause at meetings in New York City and surrounding towns.
In the 1844 presidential election Gladstone campaigned and voted for Birney and the Liberty Party ticket. Alice often told William that the Liberty Party were hypocrites for advocating the abolition of Negro slavery but did not campaign for the enfranchisement. To deny an adult the vote because of their gender was unjust as denying it because of their skin colour. By October 1844 William had come round to Alice's thinking on the issue of women's suffrage.
The first signs of a potential potato failure in Ireland came in early August 1845, but it was not until 10 October that Lord Heytesbury, the Lord Lieutenant, began to express serious concern for the Irish crop. This was as in OTL.
On 30 October Henry Goulburn, the Prime Minister of a Conservative government , summoned a meeting of the cabinet to discuss the policy of the government in respect of the failure of the potato crop in much of Ireland. Sidney Herbert, the President of the Board of Trade, argued that the Corn Laws must be repealed and free importation of grain allowed into Ireland. He was supported only by Earl Aberdeen, the Foreign Secretary, and by Sir James Graham, the Home Secretary. Goulburn and other cabinet ministers, particularly John Herries, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, argued strongly against such a policy.
The cabinet agreed to a Relief Commission for Ireland.
This quotation is taken from This Great Calamity: The Irish Famine 1845-52, by Christine Kinealy, Dublin: Gill & MacMillan, 1994.
On 30 October Henry Goulburn, the Prime Minister of a Conservative government , summoned a meeting of the cabinet to discuss the policy of the government in respect of the failure of the potato crop in much of Ireland. Sidney Herbert, the President of the Board of Trade, argued that the Corn Laws must be repealed and free importation of grain allowed into Ireland. He was supported only by Earl Aberdeen, the Foreign Secretary, and by Sir James Graham, the Home Secretary. Goulburn and other cabinet ministers, particularly John Herries, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, argued strongly against such a policy.
The cabinet agreed to a Relief Commission for Ireland.
This quotation is taken from This Great Calamity: The Irish Famine 1845-52, by Christine Kinealy, Dublin: Gill & MacMillan, 1994.
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It was the policy of the British government that it would not fund any of the relief committees in Ireland, they would have to raise money locally, or by charitable donations (1) Also they could not give relief in the form of money unless absolutely necessary when the alternative was starvation. The recipients of relief had to work for food, which was only enough to feed the workman and his dependents for one day (Sunday excepted). (2)
The food provided was Indian corn, which had been imported into Ireland by the London-based company of Erichsen, acting on behalf of the British government. However, while being filling, the corn had little nutrional value compared to potatoes.
The impact of the potato blight was most severe in the west, notably counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Tipperary and the west of County Cork. Coumties Armagh, Fermanagh and Wicklow were among the least affected counties. Heavy rain from the end of January 1846 also exacerbated the spread of the blight. (3)
The temporary relief measures introduced by Goulburn's government were intended to be phased out in mid-August 1846 when the new crop of potatoes would be available. It was expected and hoped that this crop would be healthy. However from early reports it was obvious that blight had destroyed the potato crop throughout Ireland. In 1845 the blight had been localised, in 1846 it was widespread. By August 1846 the number of deaths from starvation, and diseases caused by malnutrition were estimated to be around 2,600. (4) This number would be as nothing compared to the around one and a half million people estimated to have perished in the next five years. (5)
Lord Wharncliffe, the Lord President of the Council, died suddenly on 19 December 1845, as he did in OTL. This necessitated a cabinet reshuffle as follows:
The Earl of Ellenborough from President of the Board of Control to Lord President of the Council. (6)
Lord Stanley from Secretary of State for War and the Colonies to President of the Board of Control.
William Bingham Baring was promoted to the cabinet from Master of the Mint to Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.
Edward Eliot, the Earl of St.Germans, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, entered the cabinet in the same post.
Outside the cabinet, Richard Monkton Milnes was promoted from Under-Secretary at the Home Office to Master of the Mint, and John Manners-Sutton was moved from Secretary to the Board of Control to Vice-President of the Board of Trade.
(1) In OTL the amount of money raised locally could be matched by an equal amount by funds put at the disposal of the administration in Ireland by the British Treasury. However in practice these funds were often less than amounts raised locally.
(2) This was the same as in OTL.
(3) This was the same as in OTL.
(4) In OTL in the same period there were no such deaths.
(5) It has been estimated that the number of deaths during the Irish Famine in OTL was in the region of one million people.
(6) The Board of Control was the British government department responsible for policy towards India.
The food provided was Indian corn, which had been imported into Ireland by the London-based company of Erichsen, acting on behalf of the British government. However, while being filling, the corn had little nutrional value compared to potatoes.
The impact of the potato blight was most severe in the west, notably counties Clare, Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Tipperary and the west of County Cork. Coumties Armagh, Fermanagh and Wicklow were among the least affected counties. Heavy rain from the end of January 1846 also exacerbated the spread of the blight. (3)
The temporary relief measures introduced by Goulburn's government were intended to be phased out in mid-August 1846 when the new crop of potatoes would be available. It was expected and hoped that this crop would be healthy. However from early reports it was obvious that blight had destroyed the potato crop throughout Ireland. In 1845 the blight had been localised, in 1846 it was widespread. By August 1846 the number of deaths from starvation, and diseases caused by malnutrition were estimated to be around 2,600. (4) This number would be as nothing compared to the around one and a half million people estimated to have perished in the next five years. (5)
Lord Wharncliffe, the Lord President of the Council, died suddenly on 19 December 1845, as he did in OTL. This necessitated a cabinet reshuffle as follows:
The Earl of Ellenborough from President of the Board of Control to Lord President of the Council. (6)
Lord Stanley from Secretary of State for War and the Colonies to President of the Board of Control.
William Bingham Baring was promoted to the cabinet from Master of the Mint to Secretary of State for War and the Colonies.
Edward Eliot, the Earl of St.Germans, the Chief Secretary for Ireland, entered the cabinet in the same post.
Outside the cabinet, Richard Monkton Milnes was promoted from Under-Secretary at the Home Office to Master of the Mint, and John Manners-Sutton was moved from Secretary to the Board of Control to Vice-President of the Board of Trade.
(1) In OTL the amount of money raised locally could be matched by an equal amount by funds put at the disposal of the administration in Ireland by the British Treasury. However in practice these funds were often less than amounts raised locally.
(2) This was the same as in OTL.
(3) This was the same as in OTL.
(4) In OTL in the same period there were no such deaths.
(5) It has been estimated that the number of deaths during the Irish Famine in OTL was in the region of one million people.
(6) The Board of Control was the British government department responsible for policy towards India.
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Thank you Lord Grattan.
Throughout the autumn of 1845 and the following there were widespead and massive demonstrations against the Corn Laws. (1) Benjamin Disraeli spoke at several of these demonstrations. On 27 January 1846 Henry Labouchere, the Whig MP and onetime cabinet minister announced that he would introduce a Corn Law Repeal bill on 4 February to repeal them.
On 29 January following a cabinet meeting in which it was decided to oppose Labouchere's bill, the following six ministers resigned because they supported the repeal of the Corn Laws:
Earl of Aberdeen: Foreign Secretary
Sir James Graham: Home Secretary
Sidney Herbert: President of the Board of Trade
Earl of Lincoln: First Commissioner of Woods and Forests
Earl of St.Germans: Chief Secretary for Ireland
Lord Granville Somerset: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Graham, Herbert, Lincoln and Somerset were members of the House of Commons. Aberdeen and St. Germans were members of the House of Lords.
The resignation of the six ministers sparked widespread speculation as to whether the government could survive. Also several junior ministers resigned, of which the most unexpected was Richard Monkton Milnes, the Master of the Mint.
These cabinet resignations necessitated a major cabinet reshuffle and I will post the new cabinet in my next message.
The House of Commons debated the second reading of the Corn Law Repeal Bill on 4 February. It was officially supported by Lord John Russell and the Whig Party. It provided for the reduction and removal of all duties on imported corn and grain by February 1849. This three-year time period was aimed at attracting the support of rebel Conservatives.
At the end of the debate the Bill was defeated by 305 votes to 281. But 58 Conservatives voted with the Whigs.
(1) Here is information about the Corn Laws: http://www.victorianweb.org/history/cornlaws1.html .
Throughout the autumn of 1845 and the following there were widespead and massive demonstrations against the Corn Laws. (1) Benjamin Disraeli spoke at several of these demonstrations. On 27 January 1846 Henry Labouchere, the Whig MP and onetime cabinet minister announced that he would introduce a Corn Law Repeal bill on 4 February to repeal them.
On 29 January following a cabinet meeting in which it was decided to oppose Labouchere's bill, the following six ministers resigned because they supported the repeal of the Corn Laws:
Earl of Aberdeen: Foreign Secretary
Sir James Graham: Home Secretary
Sidney Herbert: President of the Board of Trade
Earl of Lincoln: First Commissioner of Woods and Forests
Earl of St.Germans: Chief Secretary for Ireland
Lord Granville Somerset: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Graham, Herbert, Lincoln and Somerset were members of the House of Commons. Aberdeen and St. Germans were members of the House of Lords.
The resignation of the six ministers sparked widespread speculation as to whether the government could survive. Also several junior ministers resigned, of which the most unexpected was Richard Monkton Milnes, the Master of the Mint.
These cabinet resignations necessitated a major cabinet reshuffle and I will post the new cabinet in my next message.
The House of Commons debated the second reading of the Corn Law Repeal Bill on 4 February. It was officially supported by Lord John Russell and the Whig Party. It provided for the reduction and removal of all duties on imported corn and grain by February 1849. This three-year time period was aimed at attracting the support of rebel Conservatives.
At the end of the debate the Bill was defeated by 305 votes to 281. But 58 Conservatives voted with the Whigs.
(1) Here is information about the Corn Laws: http://www.victorianweb.org/history/cornlaws1.html .
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