p28

LIFE OF COBDEN.

[casP,

1865. French model. But you have done your duty in introducing
1.60. to them the five or six millions who may ab any time set
their eyes on the portals of the constitution with a demand
for admittance which conld not be resisted ; and you have
given them this warning in language with which no one,
however fastidious, can quarrel, and yet which nobody can
fail to understand. But, after all, I sometimes think that
we almost lend ourselves to an imposture in arguing on
these matters, as though we believed we were appealing 0
a tribunal which could be swayed by appeals to reason and
the principles of justice.”
Whilst he was in this mood of discouragement, he received
a letter from Mr. Gladstone, written (Feb. 10) on behalf of
the Government and by desire of Lord Palmerston, offering
him the office of Chairman of the Board of Audit. It Was
proposed to reconstitute the Board, and to strengthen and
raise the position of its head; the Comptrollership of the
Exchequer was to be united to the Chair of the Board of
Audit; and the salary was to be raised to 2000L a year.
Although the duties of the office, Mr, Gladstone said, would
require very high qualities for their proper discharge, they
would not be very laborious. The tender of such an office
was not to be taken as an adequate acknowledgment of his
distinguished and long continued public services, but it wa®
the highest civil office which the Government had it in their
power to give. After taking a couple of days to think over
the proposal, though probably his decision was made 8b
once, Cobden declined it :—

My pEAR ME. GLADSTONE,
“1 have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter written
on behalf of the Government, offering in the kindest terms
to place at my option the post of Chairman of the Board of
Audis, about to be vacated by Mr. Romilly. Owing to the

“ Midhurst, Feb. 13, 1865.