Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/82

 He carried it on with great success and increased the sale from fifteen hundred to seven thousand a day. The price was sevenpence, and second and third editions were published daily for the first time. It circulated largely among the clergy. From 1809 to 1811 Coleridge was an intermittent contributor. An article which Stuart wrote, with Coleridge's assistance, in 1811 on the conduct of the princes in the regency question provoked an angry speech from the Duke of Sussex in the House of Lords. Mackintosh contributed to the ‘Courier’ from 1808 to 1814, and Wordsworth wrote articles on the Spanish and Portuguese navies. Southey also sent extracts from his pamphlet on the ‘Convention of Cintra’ before its publication. For his support of Addington's government Stuart declined a reward, desiring to remain independent. From 1811 he left the management almost entirely in the hands of his partner, Peter Street, under whom it became a ministerial organ. In 1817 Stuart obtained a verdict against Lovell, editor of the ‘Statesman,’ who had accused him of pocketing six or seven thousand pounds belonging to the ‘Society of the Friends of the People.’ In 1822 he sold his interest in the ‘Courier.’ Stuart, in a correspondence with Henry Coleridge, contested the statements in Gilman's ‘Life’ and in Coleridge's ‘Table Talk’ that Coleridge and his friends had made the fortune of his papers and were inadequately rewarded. Coleridge had no ground for dissatisfaction while he was actively associated with Stuart, and Stuart gave Coleridge money at later periods.

Jerdan contrasts Stuart's decorous and simple life with the profuse expenditure of his partner Street. Stuart, however, was fond of pictures. In 1806 he acquired Wilkie's ‘Blind Fiddler’ for five guineas. After withdrawing from the ‘Courier,’ Stuart purchased Wykeham Park, Oxfordshire. He died on 25 Aug. 1846 at his house in Upper Harley Street. He married in 1813.

Daniel's brother, (fl. 1788–1805), started the tory paper called ‘The Oracle’ before 1788, and in 1788 set on foot the ‘Star,’ which was the first London evening paper to appear regularly. Until 1790 the ‘Star’ was edited by [q. v.], and was carried on till 1831. Burns is said to have contemptuously refused a weekly engagement in connection with it. In the ‘Oracle,’ in 1805, Peter published a strong article in defence of Lord Melville [see, first ], who had recently been impeached. In consequence of the insinuations which it made against the opposition, Grey carried a motion on 25 April that Peter Stuart be ordered to attend at the bar of the House of Commons. Next day Stuart apologised, but was ordered into the custody of the sergeant-at-arms. He was discharged a few days later with a reprimand.



STUART, DUDLEY COUTTS (1803–1854), advocate of the independence of Poland, born in South Audley Street, London, on 11 Jan. 1803, was eighth son of John Stuart, first marquis of Bute (1744–1814), and the only son by his second wife, Frances, second daughter of Thomas Coutts, banker. His father dying during his infancy, his education was superintended by his mother, and it was from her words and example that he acquired his strong feelings of sympathy for the oppressed. He was a member of Christ's College, Cambridge, and graduated M.A. in 1823. Impressed with admiration of the character of his uncle, Sir [q. v.], he stood for Arundel on liberal principles in 1830, and was returned without opposition. He was re-chosen for Arundel at the general elections of 1831, 1833, and 1835, but in 1837 was opposed by Lord Fitzalan's influence, and defeated by 176 votes to 105. For ten years he had no seat in parliament, but in 1847, Sir Charles Napier having retired, he became one of the candidates for the borough of Marylebone, was returned at the head of the poll, and retained the seat to his death.

In 1831 Prince Adam Czartoryski visited England. Lord Dudley was greatly interested in the account which that statesman gave of the oppression exercised in Poland by the Emperor Nicholas, which had driven the Poles to revolt. Soon after his interest was further excited by the arrival in England of many members of the late Polish army, and in his place in parliament he was mainly instrumental in obtaining a vote of 10,000l. for the relief of the Poles. He then attentively studied the question, and formed the conviction that the aggressive spirit of Russia could be checked only by the restoration of Poland. At first he was associated in his agitation with Cutler Fergusson, Thomas