INSTANCE OF HIS FORESIGHT. 11 



have been done had labour been directed to such 

 works of permanent utility as railways from the 

 futile operations to which it had been applied 

 under the Government grants of the previous 

 session. A large portion of the public money, 

 instead of being absolutely wasted, would have 

 created a permanent source of national wealth, 

 and developed the resources of the country many 

 years in advance of what was otherwise possible." 



My only remark upon this passage is, that Mr 

 Balfour, the late Chief Secretary for Ireland, 

 and leader of the House of Commons, is, I be- 

 lieve, engaged in giving effect to Lord George's 

 well-considered proposals delivered nearly half a 

 century since. I base my own confident convic- 

 tions that Lord George Bentinck, had he been 

 spared, would have played a very distinguished 

 part in public life, upon one fact alone I never 

 knew him to fail in anything to which he gave his 

 serious attention and which he took in hand in 

 earnest. Whether he would have remained in 

 Parliament after the final defeat of Protection I 

 will not venture to say ; and my reason for enter- 

 taining doubts on the subject will be found in the 

 account, subsequently given, of my last interview 

 with his Lordship. 



I cannot conclude this chapter without adding 

 a few particulars about Lord George Bentinck's 

 father, the fourth Duke of Portland, who was well 



