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Important political correspondence fr British PM Benjamin Disraeli to Tory Whip
Important political correspondence fr British PM Benjamin Disraeli to Tory Whip
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Description:

A superb archive of letters from Benjamin Disraeli to party whip William Hart Dyke, one of his key political operatives in the Commons as he overcame Gladstone to form his second, enduring government

BENJAMIN DISRAELI (1804-1881) A superb archive of 25 Autograph Letters Signed, "D.," "B. Disraeli," "Beaconsfield," and "B," either as Leader of the Opposition and Prime Minister, 85pp., mostly 4.5" x 7 ", 2 Whitehall Gardens, Hughenden Manor, Grosvenor Gate, and Berlin, November 16, 1868 to November 4, 1880 (including three undated letters), to William Hart Dyke (1837-1931), who served as Conservative Whip from 1868 to 1874. Together with fourteen transmittal envelopes, each 5 x 3.75", addressed in his hand and variously franked "D.," "B. Disraeli," and "Beaconsfield." Expected folds, several examples bear some toning and soiling, covers bear some minor losses, overall very good to fine contrition.

A remarkable and informative series of letters which commence immediately following his government's fall after the December 1868 general election. Undaunted, he appeals to Hart-Dyke to become the whip for the Conservative Party: "I must now begin to prepare for future campaigns, & the first consideration for a general in his staff. He must have there, at his right had, in whose abilities & fidelity, he has extreme confidence. This because, in addition to these qualities, you have conciliatory manner & a pleasing address, that I should feel gratified if I could induce you to assist ... in the management of the party for wh[ich]: I think you are particularly qualified..."

By 1873, Disraeli had grown fond of his choice for whip, calling him in an August 1, 1873 letter, "My dear Aide-de-Camp," and adding, "I am very much obliged to you for your letters, & am grateful for y[ou]r constant discretion - I never had a member of my staff with whom I worked more agreeably, & in whose trust & tack, I had more confidence..." Musing on splits weakening the rival Liberal Party, headed by William Gladstone, he wrote, "The Government really seems to me to be on their last legs. Had I been in their place, I sh[oul]d long ago have made my bow..." In February 1874, Disraeli got his wish, a general election, called by Gladstone, resulted in the first Conservative majority in Parliament since 1841.

Although Disraeli enjoyed a majority during his second government (unlike his first), he still required his whip to keep the party together for key votes. A letter written from Whitehall, headed "Confidential" on August 1, 18765 offers a taste of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering: "I may not see you today, tho' I shall be at home till 1/2 past 2, so I write you this line. Since the 'Incident' of Monday last, there has been unceasing maneuvering on each side, but I think we have out-generalled them in every move. The Cabinet on Tuesday Morning & our prompt determination to act, gave them a check form wh[ich]: it has never recovered, & tho' it had taken steps for meetings in the great towns, Hyde Park demonstration & other things, & had the 'boodly old Times,' as Coblett called it, at their disposal, & all the rest of the villainous press, our steamer way a head & there was no wind in their sails. But after all, the battle is yet to be fought, & it will be tomorrow, it must be a decisive one So far as I can judge, it ought to take place on Read's motion (whatever form that may assume) & a large majority ag[ain]st him will allow us, I think, to close the Commons that night. Can we get that majority? Every effort must be made forward[.] Stuart[?] was going to Hamburg on Monday: he, of course, remains, Chaplin Amy's he spoke to everyone at Goodwood & that the only re-calcitrant was Randolph Churchill. Now, in great confidence, the Duke of Marlboro's asking an enormous favor of me at this moment - It is too bad, his borough sh[oul]d be mutinous. Where is the Duke? He might be fell[e]d to[o] if Randolph is really wrong. I thought it best to let you know this. Yrs. D."

Occasionally, his trusted "Aide-de-Camp" would fail him. In the midst of the fracas over the Royal Titles Act, which was to grant Queen Victoria the title of "Empress of India." The legislation was deeply unpopular, and exposed Disraeli's government to withering criticism in the Commons. Writing from Whitehall, on April 25, 1876, the Prime Minister voices his disappointment in his whip for not preventing a motion which allowed the opposition to heap yet further abuse on his ministry: "...I am a little angry at with you. Fawcett has given notice of brining forward his motion to night in reply. This I foresaw the possibility of long ago, & wanted you to have motions put on paper. None have been put on. There is Eutace Smith's old motion which, as he is one of the. conspirators he will wave, & on our own side ... Hamilton's old motion of Harbours of Refuge, wh[cih]:, as the opposition won't speak, will probably not take a couple of hours. This is sad after all my pains: a great evil which it was so easy to avoid. Look about, & make the best of it - this I see little hope."

Although the Royal Titles Act passed Parliament, it did great damage to Disraeli's government. In August 1876, Queen Victoria ennobled him as The Earl of Beaconsfield and Viscount Hughenden forcing him from the Commons. Although member of the House of Lords, he still led the party, with Richard Assheton Cross, the Home Secretary, managing the government's interests in the Commons.

A significant difficulty facing Disraeli's government in 1875 and 1876 were the revolts in the Balkans against Ottoman rule. The Turks ruthlessly suppressed the Bulgarian uprising, which appalled many in Britain. The government, eager to remain on friendly terms with Constantinople, was further compromised when William Gladstone published a pamphlet criticizing Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria, threatening British diplomacy in the region. Writing on September 20, 1876, Disraeli exclaimed, "...These are trying times - The English agitation or rather the Unenglish agitation, is doing its fatal work. There really is nothing between the policy of the Present Government & a Servile & long war. Six weeks ago, we were winning in a cantor & dictating to Europe - Now, we are stabbed in the back! " He saved his most bitter words for his rival Gladstone, calling him a "a narrow=minded, shortsided man, tho sharp eno[ugh]? Had I gone in for atrocities, & abuse the Porte, I sh[oul]d only have made the Government contemptible & sanctioned what the enemy are trying to persuade the country, that we have given up on our own policy, & adopted theirs -"

An accomplished author, Disraeli had a particularly wonderful way with words, and did not mince them when describing someone he didn't like. In a September 1876, he bemoaned the behavior of his host following a short visit with him: "...Personally, Graham is a churl. I stayed a couple of days ... with him, & it is a literal & positive fact, that he never opened his lips to a single human being. I say lips instead of mouth — because it was a curious sight to dine with a man, in a small domestic party, who never even at a meal spoke a word..."

This important political archive features more fine content, too voluminous to recount here. As a whole, it is a remarkable correspondence which reveals the inner workings of the Conservative Party, revealing Disraeli's singular manner of managing it, both in and out of power—as well offering superb examples of his singular, biting wit.

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