Page:Life of the Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel.pdf/23

Rh distinguished living characters, painted expressly for himself, is perhaps the most extensive collection in the kingdom.

Of the case of poor Haydon we have good reason to speak. A few days before his suicide, he wrote to several high personages stating his distress. Sir R. Peel was, we believe, the only one of those he addressed who returned him an answer. His reply was prompt and considerate, and inclosed a cheque for £50, drawn from the Royal Bounty Fund. Early on the morning after Haydon's death, a friend of the artist addressed a letter to Sir R. Peel, stating the facts, and adding that the widow and family were wholly unprovided for. This letter he left at the Premier's residence, and walked on to Haydon's house. Scarecly had he entered, when a Treasury messenger arrived, with a letter from Sir Robert, expressing his regret for what had occurred, and begging that a cheque which he enclosed for £200, drawn from the Bounty Fund, might be devoted to the immediate relief of his family. Shortly afterwards he obtained for Mrs. Haydon a pension of £25 a year in the gift of Lady Peel, and another pension of £50 from the Queen, and sent £100 from his own purse to the subscription for the family. One of his last official acts was to give one of the sons a place in the Customs. These generous acts of Sir Robert Peel were revealed by chance, and were performed at a time when he was himself exposed to the jibes of his adversaries, and when it might have been supposed his thoughts were otherwise engrossed.

As an orator, Sir Robert Peel was prevented from taking the first rank on account of his deficiency in enthusiasm and passion. He was fluent, adroit, and convincing, but never exciting or overpowering; and what is still more to his credit, he never addressed an ill-tempered remark to an opponent, though he was very often coarsely assailed. "I have no time