SIR ROBERT PEEL, AND HIS CLAIMS TO BE REMEMBERED BY THE LITERARY MEN OF
ENGLAND.
One of the most interesting of the recently published parts of Murray's
_Reading for the Rail_ is unquestionably _Theodore Hook, a Sketch_,
which has been reprinted from the _Quarterly Review_, with some
additional notes. Of these there is one (at p. 62.) which presents us
with the following honorable and characteristic anecdote of the late Sir
Robert Peel:--
"The writer of this sketch, now that Sir R. Peel is no more among
us, takes this, perhaps his only opportunity of mentioning the
generosity of that statesman's conduct towards Maginn. The Doctor
having always retained the strong feelings of an Irish Orangeman,
was one of those who condemned with severity Sir Robert's
pro-Catholic policy of 1829; nor, perhaps was there any one writer
of the time by whom the personal motives of the minister were more
unmercifully dealt with. The Doctor assailed them with unwearied
pertinacity, in various newspapers and magazines; but especially
in rhymes only less galling than the fiercest of Swift's. He had
never been personally acquainted with Peel, who could have known
nothing about him so distinctly as this hostility. Yet when, a few
years before Maginn's death, some of his friends were privately
making a subscription to relieve him from some pressing
difficulties, Sir Robert, casually hearing of it, immediately sent
through the writer of this sketch, with a stipulation for secrecy,
the sum of 100_l._ as a contribution to the fund. The writer
believes that Sir Robert on various subsequent occasions
interfered on the Doctor's behalf in a manner not less liberal,
and with the same delicate precautions. At all events, when the
doctor was near his end, Sir Robert forwarded for his use a
similar benefaction of 100_l._ The writer has no reason to suppose
that Maginn was ever aware of any of these kind deeds. It remains
to be added that, some years after Dr. Maginn's death, his only
son, on attaining the requisite age, received a cadetship in the
East Indies from Sir Robert Peel's last government."--(1852.)
The perusal of this interesting passage has reminded us of a desire
which we felt most strongly at the time when the country lost the
distinguished man to whom it relates; and which we should then have
given expression to, but for the fear that in the multitude of projects
for doing honour to his memory then floating before the public eye,
what we had to propose might not be received in the way which his merits
deserved.
Sir Robert Peel was pre-eminently a patron of English Literature and
literary men; and we hoped, and do still hope, to see a recognition of
his great claims in that special character on the part of the men of
letters in this country. The most appropriate that occurs to us would be
the erection of his bust or statue in the vestibule of that national
establishment, in the welfare and management of which he always took so
great an interest--we mean the British Museum.
The minister who, in terms alike honorable to himself and to the man of
letters to whom the dignity was offered, tendered a baronetcy to
Southey, and conferred upon him a pension of 300_l._ a year--who gave
the same amount to Wordsworth--who gave to James Montgomery 150_l._ a
year, and to Tytler, to Tennyson, and to M'Culloch, each 200_l._ a
year--who bestowed a pension upon Frances Brown, and gave a 100_l._ a
year to the widow of Thomas Hood--who gave the first appointment of his
first administration to a son of Allan Cunningham, and placed the sons
of Mrs. Hemans in the service of the Crown,--Sir Robert Peel, the man
and the minister who could thus recognise the claims of Literature[1],
and not, like ministers of old, stipulate for a return in the political
support of those whom he so distinguished, was surely a person whose
memory the men of letters in this country should not be slow to honour.
[Footnote 1: We have confined our remarks to Sir Robert Peel's
patronage of Literature; but that patronage was as liberally
bestowed upon Science and Art. To him Mrs. Somerville and Sir M.
Faraday were indebted for their pensions; and while his friendship
with Lawrence, Wilkie, and Chantrey, and his patronage of Collins,
Roberts, Stansfield, &c., cannot be forgotten, his prompt and most
kind response to poor Haydon's application for assistance, though
addressed to him at a moment when plunged in the fiercest
political struggle in which he was ever engaged, can never be
forgotten.]
Let us hope that the moment has arrived when they will do justice to him
who was so ready to recognise their claims. Let Lord Mahon or Mr.
Hallam, who enjoyed the friendship of Sir Robert Peel, step forward and
begin the good work. An appeal from either of them would arouse a host.
They would be supported by all who love Literature, from the highest to
the humblest. Who can doubt that the author of _Coningsby_ and the
author of _Don Carlos_ would rejoice at the opportunity, which would
thus be afforded them, of uniting to do honour to the memory of a
political opponent, in that character in which he deservedly won the
applause of all men--as the judicious and munificent PATRON OF THE
LITERATURE OF OUR NATIVE COUNTRY.
Notes.