Political History. Manuscript. 19th century. Black ink on lined paper bound in black quarter-calf with marbled page edges. 35 numbered pages of writing, titled, 'a Political Journal kept by Sir Edward Knatchbull Bart. Beginning with the Dissolution of the Whig Govt. 1834'. Entries from 1834 to 1848. Some entries are brief, but many are detailed, for instance this one near the beginning of the journal: 'Sun. Jan 25. Went to church at St. Margarets. Paid three or four visits, and called on and saw the Duke of Wellington, with whom I had some interesting conversation about newspapers and the formation of the Govt. The Duke regretted that Sir R. Vyvyan was not in office. While I was at Apsley House, the servant came in and said the Duke of Cumberland was at the gate. The Duke of Wellington said "yes", and turning to me said, "I must". I did not remain two minutes, and upon going out of Apsley House gates, I ran directly against the Duke of Cumberland, who seeing me come from the House, held out his hand and was going to speak to me, but perceiving he did not know me, retreated. I do not know whether he is acquainted with me or not, as yet in my public life it has been my fortune never in society to have met, though I have very often been invited to meet him. All this I have written on this Sunday night Jany. 25th 1835, alone in London, having left my wife and all that is dear to me at Mersham Hotel, and yet there are those who believe that my position compensates for the loss of home and wife and children, who believe that the splendour of the world, and its imaginary greatness, are of more value than domestic happiness, such are not my feelings; I give up, for a time only I hope, all that I most love and value, from a sense of duty, and with the anxious desire of serving my country. The happiest moment of my life will be, if ever I live to see it, when I can with credit retire from public life, and repose in the bosom of my family. That this is true, thou o God, who knowest the very secrets of my heart, best can tell. Oh! of thy mercy, give me health, and strength, and confidence, and courage, and every needful ability to perform to the good of my country, and to the glory of thy name, the arduous duties I have undertaken. Upon thee do I rely, for Christ's sake, strengthen me, and support me in this my time of trial. I suppose henceforth to keep this journal, and if I do not make daily entries, at least to set down shortly, the principal events that befall me.' The final entry in the journal, dated 28 April 1848, is almost three pages in length, criticising Sir Robert Peel, 'I have no particular inducement to continue my entries...but events have occurred which lead me once more to write. I have endeavoured, often times in my own mind, to justify Sir R. Peel's character and conduct in the matter of the Repeal of the Corn Laws - but in vain. Either in 1842, and previously, he was acting a deceitful part, or his mind is of that unstable vacillating cast, as altogether to disqualify him for the position he held, as first minister of this country...The times in which we live are fearful indeed. The French Revolution, the state of the whole of Europe - the condition of England - its dense population, its large national debt, the want of sufficient employment for the people, the misery of a bad harvest, and of deficient crops - if such should be our fate, the dissatisfaction openly aroused, and secretly entertained, the loss of confidence in public men - and the want of a master mind to govern the state, these and such considerations, may make the boldest heart to tremble - but we ought all, and I hope we shall all, strive to do our duty, and may God in his mercy protect us. As to Ireland, I believe the maintenance of the Union will be difficult.' We are unable to ascertain if the manuscript is in the hand of Knatchbull himself, a secretary, or an unrelated person. Sir Edward Knatchbull, 9th Baronet (1781-1849) was a British Tory politician
Realised Price: £No Entry
{CUST_LABEL_ARTIST_NAME}:
{CUST_FIELD_ARTIST_NAME}
{CUST_LABEL_SCULPTURE_DESCRIPTION}:
{CUST_FIELD_SCULPTURE_DESCRIPTION}
{CUST_LABEL_ARTIST_INTRODUCTION}:
{CUST_FIELD_ARTIST_INTRODUCTION}
