FILM AND HISTORY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 86, 8 October 1930, Page 7

FILM AND HISTORY

■DISRAELI'S LETTERS

SUEZ CANAL AND THE DERBY

(By "Student.")

The large audiences that attended the recent presentation on the screen of the main incidents of Disraeli's life indicate the reviving interest in the history of the Victorian period. The spectacular purchase of the Khedive's shares in the Suez Canal not only intrigued the world at Hie time but has simmered iv the inner consciousness of men and women ever since, and only required the presentment on the kinematograph to set audiences talking on the subject all over the worm. As a result, incident in Disraeli s life hitherto treated as private aud unimportant have come forward trom every quarter. Among the most interesting is a huge series of letters written almost daily and in the stress of political combat by Disraeli to _ Lady Bradford and Lady Chesterfield in the years 1873 to ISSO. These two women had been friends of his when a young man, and after the death of his wire the friendship revived in a remarkable way It is plain from the correspondence that the great statesman was a man who required remale companionship, and this he appears to have louiid in these two ladies. At any rate, he was never too busy to write to one or other of them, and very often twice in the same day, with all the political and social iufprmation available \ selection from these letters has recently-been published by the Marquis of Zetland in book form, the editor s preliminary comment being as follows: "It was no new thing for Disraeli to carry 011 an animated correspondence with the more intimate of his companions among the women in whose society he revelled. But seldom, surely, has the historian had placed at his disposal the written evidence of a relationship at once so illuminating and so rare. Of the existence of this strange romance which coloured the last eight years ot a remarkable career, the world has been fully aware. The story of it has been told by Mr. Buckle in1 the official record of Disraeli's life; but hi sentences so measured and so restrained as scarcely to' bring home to the reader its truly remarkable nature. As I sit lingering the actual letters of this singular correspondence .written day after day, week after week, and,, indeed, year after year, at odd times and from divers places, on sheets of paper heavily edged'with black—incongruous indication of his- undying memory of Mary Anne —I am driven constantly to asking myself: Is this real, or am I dreaming Are these, in very truth, leaves torn from the humdrum book of real life Can this strange romance be 'in very sooth, that of a nineteenth-' •jentury Prime Minister of Great Britain! "■ SEEKING SYMPATHY. To refer to the correspondence in detail would be impossible, but the book,' which- was published last year, will'be found of absorbing interest to everyone in whom knowledge of the main, incidents of Disraeli's career has been so recently stimulated. Here is a sample of one "of his letters to Lady Bradford on the (to him) eternal subject.of female sympathy: "It seems to me another year and another world since we wore together. I suffer much from it, for I require sympathy, but male sympathy does not suit me,,and. I am fastidious as to the other sex. You suit, me exactly, for you have quickness of perception aud tact, and I have the advantage of.your judgment yin conversation without the formality' ot consulting you; 'You' ■ have never asked for anything but you have given Colville a ribbon and made. Jersey a lord-in-waiting and done some other things besides... . .My life is every day more lonely, and -I see so little of. you that the consciousness of your existenco has for me the sense only of some charming dream —though I cannot be too grateful for your letters." THE SUEZ PURCHASE. In writing, to Lady Bradford twentyfour hours before the news of the pur-, chase of the Suez Canal was given to the world, Disraeli records his own feelings and those of Queen Victoria (always referred to as "the Faery") at the successful result of the negotiations. The letter was -written from Whitehall,' Gardens on .the 25th November, 1575, and-is well worth quoting: "As you complain sometimes, though I think unjustly, that I tell you nothing, I will now tell you -a great State secret, though it may .not-bo one in 4. and 20 hours (still, you will like to know it 4 and 20 hours sooner than the newspapers • can -tell you)—a State secret, certainly the most important of this year, and not one of the least events, of our generation. After a fortnight of the most unceasing labour and anxiety, I (for, between ourselves, and ourselves only, I may be egotistical iv this matter) —I have purchased for England the Khedive of Egypt's interest in. the Suez Canal. ■ "We have'airthe gamblers, capitalists, financiers of the world, organised and platooned in'bands of plunderers, arrayed against us, and secret emissaries in every corner, and have baffled them all, and. have never been suspected. /;■-■■ "The day before yesterday, Lesseps, whose company has the, remaining shares,'backed by the French Government, whose.agent ho was, made a great offer. Had it succeeded, the whole of the Suez Canal would have belonged to France, and they might have shut it up. We have given the Khedive four mil- ■ lions sterling for his interest, and run the chance of Parliament supporting us. We could not call them;together on the matter, for that would have blown everything. to the skies, or to Hades. "The Faery is iv ocstaeies about 'this great and important event' — wants 'to know all about it when Mr. D. comes down to-day.' "I have;rarely been through a week like the last —and am to-day in a state of prostration —coma —sorry I have to go down to Windsor—still more sorry not. to have had a line to-day which would have.soothed. ' ■ . "Your affft'ectionate "D." . "P.S. —Though secret here, tire telegraph will' scud the news from Egypt, I doubt not, to-day." GREVILLE'S DIARY. It is interesting to read Disraeli's opinion of Greville and of the furore that the first publication of the famous diary uccafioned. Queen Victoria not unnaturally was angered at the very free criticisms of George IV. and William IV., and Disraeli accepted her view without hesitation, expressing to Lady Bradford his own opinion of Greville and the. publication as follows:— ~ . "I have not seen Charles Greville's book, but have read a good deal of it. I think it a social outrage, and I am amused at its being the production of a man who was always talking about what ho called 'perfect gentlemen.' The Queen is wonderfully annoyed and « indignant about this publication. "I was very intimate with Greville during the latter years of his life, and when I drew the character of Sir Robert Peel (which I'think is a just and I know is a most impartial one) in the life of George Bentinck, Greville who deigned not to bo displeased with it told me one day—l suppose as a reward —{hat he had also drawn the character

of Peel, ana that I should have the privilege of reading-it,-so" ho gave.me he sacred volume winch I bore With mine own hands from Bruuton street to Grosvenor Gate. v ~... "Judging from tho MS. Volume which I read I thought that when he was not scandalous ho w«s prohx ana prosy, nor do I think when tins potion of Ms memoirs is published he will be recognised by posterity as a .l««a]^ Vandyke. Grevillo was the vainest being-I don't merely say man-that I ever knew and I have read Oiceio and was intimate with Lytton Bulwer. ' Greville's own pen portrait of iJisraeli is well.known,-but perhaps not so well known as his delineation of Loicl George Bcntinek with whom Disraeh was in close political association and whose unfavourable opinion ot GrtviUo no doubt strongly coloured Disraeli s own views. . •. ; A LOST DERBY. Greville and Bentinck were first cousius and founded a great racing partnership which ended iv a furious and lasting personal quarrel. After the dissolution Beutinck managed his own stud with great success until in low P<s turned his attention seriously to politics,- and by a single speech on tne trade of the country was changed from the Lord Paramount of the Turf to a leading statesman. He soon decided that tho breeding and running ot racehorses was incompatible with a political career, and sold his horses at one sweep for £10,000. Two years later one of them, Surplice, won the Dei by, Ito achieve which had for twenty'years been Bentinck's sole ambition. The disappointment can only be described m Disraeli's own words: — "He had nothing to console him and nothing to sustain hin but his pride. Even that deserted-him before a heart that he knew, could yield him sympathy. He gave . sort of superb igroan: 'All:my life I have been trying for this and .for what have I sacrificed it,' he murmured. It was in vain to offer solace. 'You do not know what the Derby is,' he moaned out. lob Ido it is-the - Blue Ribbon- vt the Turf.' .' 'It is the Blue -Ribbon- ot tho Turf' be slowly repeated, and sitting down at the table buried himself ma folio of statistics." So far the book is not readily obtainable in New Zealand, and even in England is still in first edition unless the screen play lias caused a. rush for it very recently. But it is in some or. the libraries.