820

LIFE OF OOBDEN,

[omar

201.

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"

(6.) To W. Hargreaves.

Two Reasons against Political Despondency.

“June 5, 1860.—I am sorry to see that you have been
laid up. Depend on it, you overdo the work in proportion
bo your forces. Don’t let: public matters worry you. Why
should you? Whatever evils befall the country, you 8b
least, in proportion to your strength, have done more than
your share to prevent them. There are two things which
we must always bear in mind when we grow impatient Of
desponding. How much has been done before us: how
many will come after us to do what remains to be done.” *
(7.) To Mr. Bright.

In 1860 violent disturbances broke out among the Christian
population of Syria. They were followed by the dispatch of a
force of occupation from the European powers, and a commissioner
 was appointed for the re-organization of Syria. The
discussion in the spring of 1861, between the French and
English Governments, turned on the continuance of the European
 occupation.

“ Algiers, 18th March, 1861.—From what I hear from
Paris, the two Governments are wrangling over Syrian
matters. After what I saw of the spirit of the Foreign
Office, it is always a source of wonder to me how any business
 in which the two Governments are concerned ever
comes to an issue, and how they escape for six months
from a rupture. For recollect, it is not merely Lord John’s
lecturing, but the ill-conditioned temper of ~— and the
subordinates with whom the details of the negotiations rests

* On the other hand, on July 16, 1860, writing to a friend on the agitation
 kindled by the action of the House of Lords against the repeal of the
Paper Duties, Cobden said :—* What. strikes me in all these movements i¢
the absence of new men. The good old veterans of the League twrn 6pPs
Put where are the young politicians?”