650 LIFE OF COBLEN. fou. xX

1856. upon him the doctrine that it is Work only, and not Time
Arse, that can relieve the mind from the pressure of bereavement:
“If I had only my own cmse to consult,” Cobden said, “]
would at once return to the duties of life, and try to escap®
from tho thoughts of the past in the hard labour and turmoil
of politics,”
Of the prospects of domestic legislation, he writes 1
suppose the work to be attempted next session is law reform;
and nothing is more pressing. Thorough measures, such 8%
simplifying the sale of land up to something like the Trish
Encambered Estates standard, shall have my hearty support
as industriously in the way of votes as if I were in th
government. But I tell you candidly, I think this work
would be better done if the Tories were in. The Lord
rule this land in ordinary times supremely. It is only onc?
in ten or twenty years that with a great effort the country
thrusts them off from some bone of contention, but merely
bo leave them in possession of the rest of the carcase #
securely as ever. Now the Lords look on the Tories 8
their party. They know that to enable them to keep offic
something must be done, and as they cannot satisfy the
Radicals in organic questions, they strain a point to let theif
men have the credit of some thorough practical reforms of
the law and administration. Hence the good round measure
of Chancery Reform which the Peers passed for the Derby-Disraeli
 government. And depend on it, if we were now 08
the left-hand side of the Speaker's chair again, there would
be a better measure of law reform passed than we are likely
to see next session.’”*
Nowhere can prospects be calculated with so little cer
tainty as in parliamentary politics. The session for which
Cobden thus anticipated such tranquil occupation, proved t0
be one of the most striking landmarks in his history.
4 To J, Parkes, Deo. 11, 1858.