Shaftesbury was bold when he formed the plot for
which Lord Russell and others suffered. Walpole was bold when, in his
lust for power, he discarded one political friend after another. And
Peel was bold when he resolved to repeal the Corn Laws. But in none
of these instances was the audacity displayed more wonderful than
when Mr. Daubeny took upon himself to make known throughout the
country his intention of abolishing the Church of England. For
to such a declaration did those few words amount. He was now the
recognised parliamentary leader of that party to which the Church of
England was essentially dear. He had achieved his place by skill,
rather than principle,--by the conviction on men's minds that he was
necessary rather than that he was fit. But still, there he was; and,
though he had alarmed many,--had, probably, alarmed all those who
followed him by his eccentric and dangerous mode of carrying on the
battle; though no Conservative regarded him as safe; yet on this
question of the Church it had been believed that he was sound.
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