LORD GEORGES STATESMANSHIP. 9 



Greville's ' Diary/ written three years after Lord 

 George's death : — 



''November 24, 1851. — Yesterday morning Dis- 

 raeli called on me to speak about his work, ' The 

 Life of Lord George Bentinck,' which he is just 

 going to bring out. I find that he means to 

 confine it to his hero's political career, and to 

 keep clear of racing, and of his antecedent life. 

 He seems to have formed a very just conception 

 of him, having, however, seen the best of him, 

 and therefore taking a more favourable view of 

 his character than I, who knew him longer and 

 better, could do. I asked Disraeli, ' Supposing 

 George Bentinck had lived, what he thought he 

 Avould have done, and how he would have suc- 

 ceeded as a Minister and leader of a Govern- 

 ment in the House of Commons ? ' He said he 

 would have failed. There were defects in his 

 education and want of flexibility in his character. 

 In his speaking there were j)hysical defects he 

 never could have got over. Disraeli added, what 

 is very true, that he had not a particle of conceit; 

 he was very obstinate, but had no vanity." 



I must venture to demur to the truth of this 

 prophecy, although emanating from such high 

 authorities as Mr Disraeli and Mr Greville, by 

 repeating what I have myself heard from equally 

 high authorities. I have been told that the late 



