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CHAPTER III. 



Disraeli's Early Political History— His Election Contest at High 

 Wycombe and an Old Radical Diary — The Story of his Early 

 Radicalism — His Chartist Speech and Repartees on the Hust- 

 ings — His Noisy Reception at Aylesbury — His Agricultural 

 Foibles — Fawcett, the Comedian — Disraeli on Bob Lowe— His 

 Famous Breakdown— His Boyish Prophecy. 



A GREAT deal has been said on many occasions, and 

 as often as not used to the detriment of Lord Beacons- 

 field, that he was guilty of tergiversation, that he shifted 

 his opinions to suit his own purposes. His opponents 

 and detractors are never satisfied without stating that 

 he commenced his political life as a Radical, and a very 

 advanced one, and that It was only at a later dat?, after 

 his first public appearance, that he came out as a Tory 

 and a supporter of Tory principles. I am old enough 

 to remember his first appearance, or, at all events, one 

 of his first appearances, as a public speaker, and this 

 was when I was a school-boy, in the year 1832 ; I 

 well remember his getting up in the County Hall, at 

 the memorable election at that time, which was called 

 the Reform Election. He was then the bitter opponent 

 of the Reform Party, represented by Mr. John Smith, 

 the cousin of the first Lord Carrlngton, and Mr. Pascoe 

 Grenfell, who were opposed by the champion of the 



