138

?
LIFE OF COBDER. [oss

1837. of business we take him for in Manchester. Although’
&v. 33. have been so much taken up with new acquaintances, I hatt
not failed to make calls upon all our old friends 8%
relations.” ?
“One of the very cleverest men I have ever met with *
Joseph Parkes, late of Birmingham, the eminent constit?
tional lawyer and writer. He was employed to prepare the
Municipal Bill and other measures. He is not only profound
in his profession, but skilled in political economy, and quit?
up to the spirit of the age in practical and popular acquir®
ments. He has been very civil to me. He received a lette’
from his friend Lord Durham requesting him to find 07!
who the author of Russia, ete., was, as those pamphlets co?’
tained more statesmanlike views than ali the heads of th
whole British cabinet. His lordship goes thoroughly and
entirely with me in my principles upon Turkey. Perhaps th?
truth is he went to St. Petersburg with opposite views, bub
having been wheedled by the Czar and his wifo, he is glad
to find in my arguments some useful pleas for justifying bi®
change.” *
One general impression of great significance Cobde®
acquired from this and some later visits to London. Comb?
had in one of his letters been complaining of the bigotry
with which he had to contend in Scotland. * What yo!
say of the intolerance of Scotland,” said Cobden to him 1*
reply, “ applies a good deal to Manchester also. There 3
but one place in the kingdom in which a man can live with
perfect freedom of thought and action, and that is London.”
However, he acted on the old and worthy principle, Sparta

% To F. Cobden. June 12, 183%
4 The Czar said to Sir Robert Peel :—* Years ago Lord Durbam was gos!
to me, & man full of prejndices against me. By merely coming to olo®
gunarters with me, all his prejudices were driven clean out of him.”
Btockmar, quoted in Mr. Martin's Life of the Prince Oonsort, i. 2186.
V To 1. Combe. March 9 1841