1866.
Ar, 60.

230

LIFE OF OOBDEN.

[omar

In acknowledging the letter, Mr. Gladstone exprossed his
satisfaction that Cobden so clearly appreciated the spirit it
which the offer had been made by the Government, and
especially by Lord Palmerston. He went on to add that he
did not think the most faithful discharge of the duties of the
office would have made the incumbent of it in any sense
whatever responsible for the expenditure of the country, of
would even have brought it before him in any marked
manner in the career of ordinary duty. None of Cobden’
friends have ever doubted the propriety of his decision,
though it is within the range of possibility that if it had
been otherwise his days might have been prolonged.
At this time Mr. Bright wrote to him (Feb. 23), s2y~
ing that Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald was to talk on Canadian
Fortifications some day soon. “I wish,” Mr. Bright said,
“ that you could be in the House when he comes on. YOU
understand the details of the question better than any other
man in the House, and I think you could knock over the
stupid proposition to spend English money in fortifications
ab Quebec. I shall probably say something if you are nob
there, but I hope the matter may not be debated till you
are in town.” A week later, Cobden received the last letter
that he was destined to have from his friend. It was a note
(Mar. 3), saying by what train Mr. Bright would come dowZ
bo Midhurst on the following afternoon. (Cobden noW
occasionally ventured out into the air during the middle of
the day, and he and Mr. Bright took easy walks together 0
the terrace at Dunford or in the lanes. On one occasio
looking in the direction of the church, Cobden said, “MY
boy is buried there, and it will not be long before I 82
there with him.” It was, indeed, little more than a month.
Three final letters belong to this date :—
“ Feb.23. (To Mr. T. B. Potter.)—I have forwarded Lord
~——g letter to Mr. Goldwin Smith. I observe that be