The most remarkable speeches in the recent debates have been those of Mr Disraeli, the Member for Shrewsbury. He has lately made himself more prominent in the sphere of literature and politics as the expounder of the views and opinions of that section of the Conservative party, which has received the name of "Young England." His opinions, however, are too peculiar, have too much individuality ever to become those of a party. We scarcely think "Young England" capable of holding as points of belief the startling paradoxes to which Mr. Disraeli occasionally gives utterance. His speeches abound with happily-turned sentences, in which a cleve sarcasm is thrown into the antithetical form; they also contain a large amount of historical information, on which he draws almost as often as Macaulay himself. He rarely announces a positively new principle, but he often places old ones in a strange andstartling light, and states the most extraordinary inconsistencies with an air of such perfect earnestness and conviction, that his auditors are sometimes puzzled whether to admire or laugh at him. But he is not one of those men who can be laughed at: we have seen him turn the laugh most sorely against those who thought themselves securely trenched behind form and precedent. He can hit hard, and none have suffered more from his sarcasm than the present Premier and the Home Secretary. He seems to mangle them with peculiar gusto, and deals with them as if he was annihilating the Tadpole or Taper of his own Coningsby. His speeches have not much metaphor, nor does he indulge in rhetorical glitter and ornament; we cannot call him impassioned, nor say he is eloquent but he interests, informs, and amuses. A speech from Disraeli is sure to command attention. His manner is not calculated to set off his matter to the best advantage. His delivery is heavy, and of action he has none whatever. He thrusts his hands deep into his side pockets, leans forward a little, or turns from side to side according to whom he may be addressing. But that is all. Though he sets the house cheering or laughing for minutes together, his countenance remains impassive; he says a good thing as if perfectly unconscious of it. He is the very antipodes of Sheil [Richard Lalor Sheil, 1791-1851, an Irish politician known for his oratory], who is all action and passion, and for the time he is speaking is like one possessed.
Disraeli is the son of J. [I] Disraeli, of Bradenham House, the author of the Curiosities of Literature. Talent seems to have descended to his son, who is well known as the author of several novels — Alroy, Vivian Grey, Contarini Fleming, The Young Duke, and others. To his pen are also attributed the Letters of Runnimede, published, we believe, about the time of the Reform agitation. He represented Maidstone in 1837, but now sits for Shrewsbury. When the Whigs were in office he gave much attention to the foreign diplomacy of the country; and by bringing forward motions on the subject, exposed himself to occasional severe treatment at the hands of Lord Palmerston. He has lately devoted himself more to home affairs, and mixes more in general debates than he was wont to do. He is about forty, rather above the middle height; he is pale, with deep black hair, and a countenance sufficiently indicative of Hebrew descent, even if his name were not so decisive.
Links to Related Material
- Benjamin Disraeli — Biographical Materials
- Benjamin Disraeli — political themes and contexts
- Benjamin Disraeli's Works
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Bibliography
Illustrated London News XX (22 June 1844): 404.
Created 4 June 2024