* DISRAELI, TILE RIGHT HONOURABLE BENJAMIN, one of the eons of the subject of the preceding notice, was born in London in December 1805. He showed great precocity of talent; which how ever was for some time kept in check by drudgery iu an attorney's office, where he had been placed by his father to qualify him for the legal profession. His first efforts with his pen were in 1826, when he contributed articles to a daily metropolitan newspaper then started in the Tory interest, under the name of 'The Representative.' The paper did not exist longer than five months. The experiment he had made in connection with it however was sufficient to confirm young Diaraeli'e determination to combine political ambition with what he might consider his hereditary right to distinction in literature. Isr 1823 he published his novel of ' Vivian Grey,' painting the career in modern society of a youth of talent, ambitious of a political celebrity. This work made a great sensation. From 1829 to 1831 Mr. Disraeli travelled on the Continent, and in the East, whence be brought home those Impressions of Oriental life, the pictures of which appear iu so many of his novels; and about the same time apparently ho began those muainge as to the function iu the modern world of the race to which ho belonged, which have since, under the form of a theory of the supremacy of the Semitic mind (Mr. Disraeli misnames it the Caucasian mind) pervaded most of his works. While on his travels Mr. Disraeli wrote and published two additional novels, Coutarini Fleming' and "rhe Young Duke.' On his return, at a time when the Reform Bill agitation had introduced a new era in British politics, be made various efforts to get elected to Parliament lie stood, with recommendations from Mr. Hume and Mr. O'Connell to back him, for the small borough of Wycombe in Bucks, his position being that of a candidate of Radical opinions, whom however the Tories as well as the Radicals supported, from opposition to tho Whigs. Defeated iu this election he became a candidate (1833) in the Radical interest for the borough of Marylebone; describing himself in his address to the electors as a man who "had already fought the battle of the people," and who "was supported by neither of the aristocratic parties," and avowing himself a friend to Triennial Parliaments and Vote by Ballot. He was again unsuccessful ; and seeing no chance of being elected by any other constituency, he resumed his literary occupations. The Tale of Alroy,' and 'The Rise of Iskander,' published together in 1833 provoked some critical ridicule from the extravagance of their style, as well as from the extravagance of the author's claims in their behalf as novelties in the modern literary art. They were followed by the 'Revolutionary Epic,' a quarto poem (18341, the high pretensions of which were not confirmed by any impression it made on the reading public. In the same year he published a political pamphlet entitled, The Crisis Examined,' and in 1835 another pamphlet entitled, 'A Vindication of the English Constitution.' In this year he became a candidate for the borough of Taunton, and as he now came forward in the Conservative interest, O'Connell in reply to an attack made by Mr. Disraeli on him at the hustings, issued a diatribe against him, in which he accused him of inconsistency in language coarser and more personal than was perhaps ever used before on any similar occasion. This led to a hostile correspondence between Mr. Disraeli and Mr. O'Connell's son, and to altercations in the news papers, in the course of which Mr. Disraeli explained his political principles in a manner intended to show bow his professions and conduct in 1831 and 1833 might be reconciled with his professions and conduct in 1835. In a letter addressed to Mr. O'Connell himself,
after his failure in the election, he said, alluding to this fact of his repeated failures :—"I have a deep conviction that the hour is at hand when I shall be more successful. I expect to be a representative of the people before the repeal of the union. We shall meet again at Philippi; and rest assured that, confident in a good cause, and iu some energies which have not been altogether unimproved, I will seize the first opportunity of inflicting upon you a castigation which will at the same time make you remember and repent the insults that you have lavished upon Benjamin Disraeli." This was thought bravado at the time ; but the prediction was realised. After an interval of two years—during which he published his novels 'Henrietta Temple' (1836) and 'Venetia' (1837)—Mr. Disraeli at the age of thirty-two was returned as Conservative member for Maidstone (1837). But the list of his failures was not yet closed. His maiden speech—prepared beforehand and in a very highflown style—was a total failure ; he was accompanied through it by the laughter of the House, and at last was obliged to sit down. But before he did so, he energetically uttered the following sentences, "I have begun several times many things, and have often succeeded at last. I shall sit down TOW, but the time will come when you will hear mu" This proved to be true. Speaking little for some time, and carefully training himself to the parliamentary style and manner, he began about 1839 to obtain the attention of the House; and by the year 1841 he was recognised as the leader of the "Young England Party," who were trying to give a new form and application to Tory prin ciples. His marriage in 1839 with Mra. Wyndham Lewis, the wealthy widow of his parliamentary colleague for Maidstone, gave his talents the social meaoa necessary for their full success in public life. It was during the Peel ministry of 1841-46 that he acquired his highest distinction as a master of parliamentary invective : during the latter portion of this period his attacks on Peel were incessant. He was then member no longer for Maidstone but for Shrewsbury (1841.47). After the repeal of the Corn Laws and the retirement of Sir Robert Peel from office, Mr. Disraeli laboured, in conjunction with Lord George Bentinck, to form the new Protectionist party as distinct from both the Peel-Conservativea and the Whigs. The results were decisive. After Lord George Bentiuck's death in 1848, Mr. Disraeli (elected for Bucks in 1847) became the leader of the Protectionist or old Tory party in the House of Commons ; and he led it with such consum mate ability, that, on the retirement of Lord John Russell's cabinet in 1852, and the formation of a Tory government under Lord Derby, Mr. Disraeli became Chancellor of the Exchequer. This government however lasted only from March to December 1852, when it broke down on Mr. Disraeli's budget. The Coalition Ministry of Lord Aberdeen succeeded, to be followed by that of Lord Palmerston ; and while we write (1856) Mr. Disraeli has never again been in office, but, like Lord Derby, has exercised his talents in parliamentary opposition to Whigs and Peelitee. It is only necessary to add the list of his works published since the commencement of his parliamentary career In 1837. These are Alarcon : a Tragedy,' published in 1839 ; Coningsby: or the New Generation,' a political novel on Young England principles, published in 1844 ; 'Sybil, or the Two Nations,' a novel of similar purpose, published in 1845 ; Tapered, or the New Crusade,' also a political novel, published in 1847; and a 'Political Biography of Lord George Bentinek: Of more trifling writings it is unnecessary to take note.