av] PRIVATE HUBARBASEM TIA,

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“ud shall not have a mement’s peace of mind until 1 have 8
fairly got oui of my presert false position. In fact, I would Ar. 4.
10% go through another four months like the past for any
tarthly consideration whatever.”
A friend of Cobden’s, who was engaged in the same busi-Ress,
 has told me how he received a message one afternoon
1 the winter before this, that Cobden wished to see him.
Ho went over to the office in Mosley Street, and found him
0 the edge of ‘dark sitting with his feet on the fender,
booking gloomily futo the languishing fire. He was evidently
0 great misery. Cobden had sent for him to seek his
8dvice how to extricate himself from the difficulties in
Which his business had become involved. They summoned
® second friend to their sombre councils. There was no
doubt either of the serioasness of the position or of the
Causes to which ib was due. His business, they told
him, wanted a head. If he persisted in his present
Course, nothing on earth could keep him from ruin. He
Mast retive from public life, and must retire from ib
Without the loss of a day. Cobden struggied desperately
Against the sentence. The battle, he said, was so momen-Yous,
 ang perhaps so nearly won. One of his counsellors
atked him how he could either work or resi with a black
load like this upon his mind. Oh,” said Cobden, * when
Lam about public affairs I never think of it; it does mot
fouch me; I am asleep the moment my head is on the
Pillow.”
A few mouths later the difficulty could no longer be
evaded. In September Cobden, at the cost of anguish which
Ve may imagine, came to the terrible vesolntion to give up
Public affairs. He wrote a letter, describing his position
and the resolve to which: it had driven him, to the friend
Who had for four unresting years been his daily comrade
and follow-soldiar. and whose mere presence at his side, he