Samuel Rogers and his Contemporaries
Lord Brougham to Samuel Rogers, [24 July 1850]
‘House of Lords: Wednesday [24th July, 1850].
‘My dear R.,—Palmerston’s dinner of Saturday was the greatest failure
ever known. Not a single colleague nor any person in office, except Attorney
and Solicitor-General. All the M.P.’s known Radicals. The rest utterly
unknown. It is said there was a riot and fight, and the police called in. No
news have occurred since I had the pleasure of seeing you.
‘I have been prevented calling with Lady Malet, by being a prisoner in this House,
hearing causes daily from ten to five. I am working off Cottenham’s arrears. The new Chancellor does exceedingly well.
‘Yours affectionately,
Henry Peter Brougham, first baron Brougham and Vaux (1778-1868)
Educated at Edinburgh University, he was a founder of the
Edinburgh
Review in which he chastised Byron's
Hours of Idleness; he
defended Queen Caroline in her trial for adultery (1820), established the London University
(1828), and was appointed lord chancellor (1830).
Henry John Temple, third viscount Palmerston (1784-1865)
After education at Harrow and Edinburgh University he was MP for Newport (1807-11) and
Cambridge University (1811-31), foreign minister (1830-41), and prime minister (1855-58,
1859-65).
Thomas Wilde, first baron Truro (1782-1855)
English judge who made his reputation defending Queen Caroline; he was serjeant-at-law
(1824), Whig MP for Newark-on-Trent (1831-32), and lord chancellor (1850-52).