630 . LIF DP COBDEN. [oma

1868.
Ar, 51.

moderation and modesty in foreign affairs, and enlighter
that almost Spanish or Chinese ignorance about every -
thing going on abroad which characterizes the masses ©!
our countrymen.
“I am willing to incur any obloguy in telling the whole
truth to the public as to the share they have had in bhi
war, and it is better” to face any neglect or hostility thar
allow them to persuade themselves that anybody but them
selves sre responsible for the war.”
“ Midhurst, Jan. 5,1855. (To Mr. Bright)—1I agree with
you that there is some change in the public mind upon
the war; but the more moderate tone is less to be attributed
 to pacific tendencies than to the lassitude which
naturally follows a great excitement. There is about 83
much unsoundness as ever abroad about foreign affairs. A
few exceptions scattered over the land have come to mY
knowledge since I spoke in the House. I have heard from
a few parsons, amongst others; they are, I suppose
eccentricities who have not much weight.
“The break-down of our aristocratic rulers, when their
energies are put to the stress of a great emergency, is about
the most consolatory incident of the war. I am nob sure
that it will so far raise the middle class in their own esteem
as to induce them to venture on the task of self-government.
They must be ruled by lords. Even the Times is obliged
to make the amende to the aristocratic spirit of the nge by
calling for that very ordinary bub self-willed lord, the
Governor-general of India, to come and save us. Bub the
thseredit and the slaughter to which our patricians, civil and
military, have been exposed, will go far to make real war
unpopular with that influential class for another generation
bo come, whilst the swift retribution likely to fall on the
oabicet will tend to make Governments less warlike in future

Lord Dalhousie was now (Governor-gensoral