m.] HIS GEIURN, PUBLICATION OF PAMPHLETS, 4!

wienfifie, but to accept it in 1835 was a good sign of Yas
mental activity, Cobden’s portraits of his shipmates, if they Zr. 21.
re not so deep-reaching as La Bruyére, serve to illustrate
is habit of watching the ways of men, of studying the
differences among them, and of judging them with the
kindly nentrality of the humourist or the naturalist. How
useful this habit became to the leader of a political agitation,
in which patient and versatile handling of different characters
ls 80 important gift, we shall soon see,
After his return from America, Cobden remained ab
home for fifteen months, from the summer of 1835 to the
autumn of 1836, He began by making up all arrears of
business, and discussing new projects with his partners.
But public affairs drew him with irresistible attraction. Tt
Was probably in this interval that he made his first public
speech, The object of the meeting, which was small and
unimportant, was to further the demand of a corporation for
Manchester. Cobden was diffident, and unwilling to speak.
He was at length induced to rise, but his speech is described
a8 a signal failure. “He wag nervous,” says the chronicler,
“confused, and in fact practically broke down, and the
chairman had to apologize for him.” The first occasion on
which his name appears in the newspapers is the announcewent
 that he wag chosen to be on the committee of the
newly established Athensmum at Manchester, and he modestly
seconded a resolution at, the meeting.* The important piece
*f work of this date was the pamphlet on Russia, which was
bublished in the Summer of 1836. The earlier pamphlet,

¥ Oot. 1, 18385, .
i The original advertisement ig ag follows :—“ On Monday, July 25, will
08 published, price 8d., Russia, by a Manchester Manufacturer, author of
England, Ireland, ang Americ. Coutenta—1. Russia, Turkey, and England.
L. Poland, Russia, ang England, 8. The Balance of Power. 4. Protection
’f Commerc, . , , This is not g party pamphlet, nor will Russia be found
28 the title might seem to imply, to be exolurively the subject of inquiry in
she following Drag?