My countrymen may feel assured that if remonstrances, firm and
dignified, had anticipated each known intended outrage - English and
Irish-American conspiracies would have not been as now.
"ROSE HILL, NORTHENDEN, near MANCHESTER,
"12th August, 1868.
"MY DEAR SIR,
"I, gladly, enclose a copy of the Gazette notice of your Baronetcy.
"I have had the fees at the Heralds' College, and also the stamps and
expenses, through the Home Office, duly paid, and I will send you the
papers and receipts as soon as I receive them.
"The completion of this matter will close the somewhat intimate
connection which now for some years has given me, if trouble and
anxiety, still deep pleasure and satisfaction, - in reference to your
now united Provinces.
"With best wishes allow me to remain,
"Yours very faithfully,
"EDW. W. WATKIN.
"To the Hon. Sir G. E. CARTIER, Bart.,
"Montreal, Canada."
"OTTAWA,
"18th September, 1868.
"MY DEAR SIR EDWARD,
"The last English mail has brought us the happy news that the honor of
knighthood has been conferred on you by the Queen.
"Allow me to offer you, Lady Watkin, and your dear son and daughter, my
sincere and heartfelt congratulations on the bestowal on you of so well
deserved a distinction. You must bear in mind that I do not forget that
the honor so recently bestowed on you would have been conferred on you
a long time ago, had not your generous feelings towards me prompted you
at one time to decline the same distinction. Lady Cartier and my
daughters gladly unite with me in this expression of congratulation,
which I now offer you, Lady Watkin, and your son and daughter. I hope
that your future election will not give you much trouble, and that
Canada and the British people will have again the benefit of your
presence in Parliament.
"I may see you before long in England. Be kind enough to accept for you
and Lady Watkin the assurance of the kindest regards of myself, Lady
Cartier, and my daughters, "And, believe me, my dear Sir Edward, "Yours
very truly,
"GEO. ET. CARTIER.
"Sir EDWARD W. WATKIN, M.P., Kt., London."
"London,
"Westminster Palace Hotel,
"20th November, 1868.
"My dear Sir Edward,
"You cannot conceive how sorrowful I feel that the result of the
election in Stockport was adverse to you. I was watching the incidents
and proceedings connected with that election with such an interest and
with such sure hope that you would be successful. You have no idea of
my grief and disappointment when I became aware of your defeat. Our
friend Brydges has mentioned to me some of the causes which have
militated against you amongst your constituents, viz. your having
attended at the laying of the corner stone of a Roman Catholic School,
and your drinking the health of the 'Pope' at the lunch which
ensued, and also the displeasure which you have
incurred from Mr. Bright and some of his friends for not having
supported him in his motion for Nova Scotia against the
Confederation. I have already written to some of my colleagues in
Canada to let them know there the 'liberality' of these
pretended 'Liberals' here. I hope you will not remain a long time
out of Parliament, and that very soon some vacancy will
occur which will give you an opportunity to be re-elected, and to serve
and advocate again in the Imperial Parliament, not only the
interests of the three British Isles, but also the Colonial
interests, and particularly those of the Dominion of Canada, to which
you have always attended with such ability, zeal, and ardour, that you
have now the everlasting gratitude of every Canadian. I hope your
electoral contretems will not deter you from your political
pursuits. I would have had such a pleasure in congratulating Lady
Watkin on your electoral success.
"I hope Lady Watkin, Miss Watkin, and your son are enjoying good
health. Have the goodness to present my best regards to Lady Watkin,
and to remember me kindly to your dear daughter and son; and, my dear
Sir Edward, reiterating to you my sincere thanks for all you have done
for me, and expecting the pleasure of seeing you very soon in London,
believe me, as always,
"Your very sincere,
"And devoted friend,
"GEO. ET. CARTIER.
"Sir EDWARD W. WATKIN, 21, Old Broad Street, London.
"On my leaving Canada Lady Cartier and my daughters have asked me not
to forget to present to you and Lady Watkin their best wishes and
kindest regards, to remember them kindly to your son, and to offer
their compliments to Miss Watkin, in the hope of making her
acquaintance hereafter."
CHAPTER XXII.
Disraeli - Beaconsfield.
No one aided the cause of Canada more readily than Mr. Disraeli, and I
ought to explain how I first gained his confidence and kindness. But
Mr. Philip Rose, who was his solicitor, his friend, his executor; who
had stuck by him "per angusta ad augusta," was of priceless service in
placing before him, from time to time, the facts, affecting
Confederation, as I collected them.
My first acquaintance with Mr. Disraeli was the consequence of my
connection, as an honorary secretary, with the "Manchester Athenaeum," a
literary institute, originated in 1835 by Richard Cobden, on his return
from a visit to his brother in the United States, a country at that
time on the rage for social clubs with classic names. The "Manchester
Athenaeum," owing partly to defective management and architectural
costliness, partly to some years of bad trade and deficient employment,
and partly to an unfortunate sectarian conflict, had fallen into debt
and difficulty; and a few of the younger members, who had profited by
the existence of the institution, came to the rescue, and by various
methods got rid of its debts, and set it fairly on the way again.
