Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 38.djvu/130

 policy. He obtained a committee to inquire into the system of transportation in 1837, and wrote the report, which produced a considerable impression. He continued to attack the system, and contributed to its ultimate abandonment. In his colonial policy he accepted the theories of [q. v.], then in much favour. He supported all measures for colonial self-government, and protested with his party against the coercive measures adopted by the whig ministry during the Canadian troubles. The 'philosophical radicals,' however, gradually sank into insignificance. As early as 1836 Buller observed to Grote that their duties would soon be confined to 'telling' Molesworth. His Cornish constituency became dissatisfied with him, he was disliked by the country gentlemen for his extreme views, the whigs resolved to give him up, and he did not satisfy the agricultural interest. He wrote an address to his constituents (September 1836) stating that he should not stand again, and looked out for a metropolitan constituency. He was finally accepted as a candidate for Leeds, and was elected with [q. v.] in July 1837, beating a third candidate by a small majority. An attempt to form a ' radical brigade ' in this parliament failed, owing to a proposal from O'Connell to join it. The radicals were afraid that they would be swamped, and the scheme fell through (Phil. Radicals, p. 32). On 2 March 1838 Molesworth moved a vote of censure upon the colonial secretary [see ]. An amendment was proposed by Lord Sandon [see, second ] condemning the Canadian policy, when the original motion was withdrawn. The government had a majority of 29, Molesworth and Grote not voting. During the next few years Molesworth was much occupied with his edition of 'Hobbes's Works.' It was published in sixteen volumes, from 1839 to 1845, with dedication in English and Latin to Grote. He engaged as literary assistant Mr. Edward Grubbe (ib. p. 67). The book is said to have cost 'many thousand pounds.' It is the standard edition; but unfortunately Molesworth never finished the life of Hobbes, which was to complete it, although at his death it was reported to be in manuscript (Gent. Mag. 1855, pt. ii. p. 647). Molesworth joined Grote in subsidising Comte in 1840.

At the general election of 1841 Molesworth did not stand. He had offended many of his constituents in 1840 by holding a peace meeting at Leeds during the French difficulties of 1840, when he strongly advocated an alliance with France and attacked Russia. He remained quietly at Pencarrow studying mathematics. Another love aifair, of which Mrs. Grote gives full details, had occupied him in 1840 and 1841, which again failed from the objections of the family to his principles. In 1844, however, he met a lady, who was happily at her own disposal. He was married, on 4 July 1844, to Andalusia Grant, daughter of Bruce Carstairs, and widow of Temple West of Mathon Lodge, Worcestershire. His friends thought, according to Mrs. Grote, that the lady's social position was too humble to justify the step. Mrs. Grote says that she defended him to her friends, but Molesworth, hearing that she had made some 'ill-natured remarks about his marriage,' curtly signified to her husband his wish to hear no more from her. Although Charles Austin made some attempts to make up the quarrel, the intimacy with the Grotes was finally broken off.

Molesworth after his marriage gave up his recluse habits, being anxious, as Mrs. Grote surmises, to show that he could conquer the world, from which he had received many mortifications. It may also be guessed that his marriage had made him happier. In any case he again entered parliament, being returned for Southwark in September 1845, with 1,943 votes against 1,182 for a tory candidate, and 352 for the representative of the dissenters and radicals, [q. v.] His support of the Maynooth grant was the chief ground of opposition, and a cry was raised of 'No Hobbes!' Molesworth retained his seat at Southwark till his death. On 20 May 1851 he moved for the discontinuance of transportation to Van Diemen's Land, but the house was counted out. He gave a general support to the whigs in the following years, and upon the formation of Lord Aberdeen's government in January 1853 became first commissioner of the board of works, with a seat in the cabinet. Cobden regarded his accession to office as an apostasy, and on the approach of the Crimean war taunted him with inconsistency. Molesworth defended himself by referring to the Leeds speech of 1840, in which he had avowed the same foreign policy. He had, however, broken with his old allies. He has the credit of having opened Kew Gardens to the public on Sundays. Upon Lord John Russell's resignation in 1855, Molesworth became colonial secretary (2 July). It was a position for which he had specially qualified himself: but his strength had already failed. He died 22 Oct. following, and was buried at Kensal Green.

As Molesworth left no issue, and as his