Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/51

 CHAPTER III.

FEAR OF ASSASSINATION.

A short time before this memorable debate a melancholy event occurred which had considerably shaken the equanimity of the premier. It is thus described by Miss Martineau, in her "Thirty Year's Peace":—"While all was gloomiest, in January, 1843, an event happened which might almost justify any increase of panic. Sir R. Peel's private secretary, Mr. Edward Drummond, was shot in the street, and died of the wound. It was at first supposed he was mistaken for the premier; and, in a season such as this, which was manifestly unsettling weak wits, it was some time before Sir R. Peel was considered safe. Two policemen in plain clothes followed him in the streets; and the newspapers, which were all aware of the fact, considerately forbore (all but one) to notice the fact. Mr. Drummond's murderer, however, was proved a lunatic, and lodged for life in an asylum. Yet, there was mischief in the occurrence. Drunken men were heard to threaten the Queen and the Minister; and infirm brains began to work in that direction, as we see by the police reports of the time.

"Something worse than the fears of the brave' were the follies of the wise.' Grave statesmen, honourable gentlemen, benevolent Christians, began to conceive of conduct in their adversaries, and to utter imputations, which could never have come into their heads at an ordinary time. The Anti-Corn-Law League had not had time to win the respect and command the deference which it was soon to enjoy: but it was known to be organized and