MEMOIR OF DANIEL TREADWIXL. 4G7 



know, a Conservative, and highly in favor of carrying on tlio war, — tlic very opposite of 

 Cobdon and Bright in all his politics, and yet I dislike him more than any man in the House 

 of Commons. He always makes me think of Mephistoplielcs, and I should like to have seen 

 Lord Palmerston knock him down at the end of his speech on Tuesday night. 



I never was more out in my life than in Mr. Bi'ight, as I had supposed him in personal ap- 

 pearance compared with what I found him. He is put dowu in the list of members, " John 

 Bright, cotton spinner, and a member of the Society of Friends." Of course I expected to 

 see a tall, ungainly figure in a drab coat get up, with a broad brim hat on, and Thee and 

 Thou the speaker through his nose. But instead of all this he turns out to be a stout, fine- 

 looking man, with no mark upon his dress except a standing collar and a single-breasted 

 coat, his cheeks covered with a most ferocious pair of whiskers. K old George Fox could see 

 him he would say, " Thcc a Quaker ! thou abominable damned cheater ! " He made but a 

 short speech, but enough to show that he has great power, and must prove an u<jlij customer. 

 Pope would perhaps take him as hotli Quaker and Pi'esbyterian, as he is not only sJij but sour. 

 With him on one side, and Disraeli on the other, the Government have but a narrow path, and 

 our hope must be, that, narrow as it is, it will lead directly to what the hack members call 

 a safe and honorable and lasting peace. 



I have read Flourens's * book attentively. It is not so much as I thought it would be. 

 There is over pains taken to prove many things that are obvious in some cases, and in other 

 cases general conclusions are drawn that are wholly unwarranted. Thus, at page 95 he says 

 the period of gestation, of growth, and of the duration of life are all in proportion to each 

 other. Now tiie gestation of man is three fourths of a year, of the horse one year. Man 

 lives according to him 100 years, the horse 25 years ; then we have, | : 100 : : 1 : 25 ; -or, 

 18| = 100. What confidence can we have in a man that will say this ? I believe I do not 

 misrepresent him, or mistake the meaning of his words. 



We find everything very comfortable here. We live more to our minds than we did any- 

 where on the Continent, and we certainly have more that we like for the same money than 

 we have had anywhere else. I should like to have the wine, the Falernian or Ca]3ri, but as 

 yet I find no difficulty with the ale. I mean to be at home in season for a journey with you 

 to Vermont, that we may compare our own country with this Old World, now that all is fresh 

 in our minds ; for although you and I have not much more to do with either, that is no reason 

 why we should not make the most of them while they last to us. 



I see that Governor Gardner has put down his foot against the removal of Judge Loring, 

 hut the "Know Nothings" seem to have it all their own way in many of the States. The 

 Maine liquor law is making much talk here, and although there is no government in Europe 

 strong enough to adopt and carry it out, yet the discussion will have a good effect in 

 checking intemperance by public discussions and moral suasion, which nuist precede law 

 everywhere, except, perhaps, in your beautiful Eussia. 



Pray let me have a long letter immediately on receipt of this, as I shall be here long 

 enough for the return of the steamer, and I shall of course be anxious to know whether every- 

 thing has broken up at home, and the despotism been established, before I venture to return. 



With best remembrances of self and Mrs. T. to all, believe me ever yours, 



Daniel Treadwell. 



* De la Longevite Huinaine ct do la Quantite dc Vir .sur Ic Glube, par P. Flourcns. 



