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this was preeminently a Whig subject； and Mr。 Gladstone never was a
Whig； never learned to think upon the lines of the great Whigs of
former days。 His knowledge was not； perhaps； very wide； but it was
generally exact； indeed； the accuracy with which he grasped facts
that belonged to the realm of history proper was sometimes in
strange contrast to the fanciful way in which he reasoned from them；
or to the wildness of his conjectures in the prehistoric region。
For metaphysics strictly so called he had apparently little turn
his reading did not go far beyond those companions of his youth；
Aristotle and Bishop Butler； and philosophical speculation
interested him only so far as it bore on Christian doctrine。
Neither； in spite of his eminence as a financier and an advocate of
free trade； did he show much taste for economic studies。 On
practical topics； such as the working of protective tariffs； the
abuse of charitable endowments； the development of fruit…culture in
England； the duty of liberal giving by the rich； the utility of
thrift among the poor； his remarks were always full of point；
clearness； and good sense； but he seldom launched out into the wider
sea of economic theory。 He must have possessed mathematical talent；
for he took a first class in mathematics at Oxford； at the same time
as his first in classics； but it was a subject he soon dropped。
Regarding the sciences of nature； the sciences of experiment and
observation； he seemed to feel as little curiosity as any educated
man who notes the enormous part they play in the modern world can
feel。 Sayings of his have been quoted which show that he
imperfectly comprehended the character of the evidence they rely
upon and of the methods they employ。 On one occasion he astonished
a dinner…table of younger friends by refusing to accept some of the
most certain conclusions of modern geology。 No doubt he belonged
（as the famous Lord Derby once said of himself） to a pre…scientific
age； still； it was hard to avoid thinking that he was unconsciously
influenced by a belief that such sciences as geology and biology；
for instance； were being worked in a sense hostile to revealed
religion； and were therefore influences threatening the moral
welfare of mankind。
CHAPTER VIII： RELIGIOUS CHARACTER
Of all the things with which men are concerned； religion was that
which had the strongest hold upon his thoughts and feelings。 He had
desired； when quitting the university； to become a clergyman； and it
was only his father's opposition that made him abandon the idea。
Never thereafter did he cease to take the warmest and most constant
interest in all the ecclesiastical controversies that distracted the
Established Church。 He was turned out of his seat for Oxford
University by the country clergy； who form the bulk of the voters。
He incurred the bitter displeasure of four fifths of the Anglican
communion by disestablishing the Protestant Episcopal Church in
Ireland； and from 1868 to the end of his life found nearly all the
clerical force of the English establishment arrayed against him；
while his warmest support came from the Nonconformists of England
and the Presbyterians of Scotland。 Yet nothing affected his
devotion to the church in which he had been brought up； nor to the
body of Anglo…Catholic doctrine he had imbibed as an undergraduate。
After an attack of influenza which had left him very weak in the
spring of 1891； he endangered his life by attending a meeting on
behalf of the Colonial Bishoprics Fund； for which he had spoken
fifty years before。 His theological opinions tinged his views upon
not a few political subjects。 They filled him with dislike of the
legalization of marriage with a deceased wife's sister； they made
him a vehement opponent of the bill which established the English
Divorce Court in 1857； and a watchfully hostile critic of all
divorce legislation in America afterward。 Some of his friends
traced to the same cause his low estimate of German literature and
even his political aversion to the German Empire。 He could not
forget that Germany had been the fountain of rationalism； while
German Evangelical Protestantism was more schismatic and further
removed from the medieval church than it pleased him to deem the
Church of England to be。 He had an exceedingly high sense of the
duty of purity of life and of the sanctity of domestic relations；
and his rigid ideas of decorum inspired so much awe that it used to
be said to a person who had told an anecdote with ever so slight a
tinge of impropriety； 〃How many thousands of pounds would you take
to tell that to Gladstone？〃 When living in the country； it was his
constant practice to attend daily morning service in the parish
church； and on Sunday to read in it the lessons for the day； nor did
he ever through his long career transgress his rule against Sunday
labor。
Religious feeling； coupled with a system of firm dogmatic beliefs；
was the mainspring of his whole career； a guiding light in
perplexities； a source of strength in adverse fortune； a consolation
in sorrow； a beacon of hope beyond the disappointments and
shortcomings of life。 He did not make what is commonly called a
profession of religion； and talked little about it in general
society； though always ready to plunge into a magazine controversy
when Christianity was assailed。 But those who knew him well knew
that he was always referring current questions to； and trying his
own conduct by； a religious standard。 He was a remarkable example
of the coexistence together with a Christian virtue of a quality
which theologians treat as a sin。 He was an exceedingly proud man；
yet an exceedingly humble Christian。 With a high regard for his own
dignity and a keen sensitiveness to any imputation on his honor； he
was deeply conscious of his imperfections in the eye of God；
realizing the sinfulness and feebleness of human nature with a
medieval intensity。 The language of self…depreciation he was wont
to use； though people often thought it unreal； was the genuine
expression of his sense of the contrast between the religious ideal
he set up and his own attainment。 And the tolerance which he
extended to those who attacked him or who had （as he thought）
behaved ill in public life was largely due to this pervading sense
of the frailty of human character； and of the inextricable mixture
in conduct of good and bad motives。 〃It is always best to take the
charitable view；〃 he once observed in passing through the division
lobby； when a friend had quoted to him the saying of Dean Church
that Mark Pattison had painted himself too black in his
autobiography〃always best； especially in politics。〃
This indulgent view； which seemed to develop in his later years； was
the more remarkable because his feelings were strong and his
expressions sometimes too vehement。 There was nothing in it of the
cynical 〃man of the world〃 acceptance of a low standard as the only
possible standard； for his moral earnestness was as fervent at
eighty…eight as it had been at thirty。 Although eminently
accessible and open in the ordinary converse of society； he was in
reality a reserved man； not shy； stiff； and externally cold； like
Peel； nor always standing on a pedestal of dignity； like the younger
Pitt； but revealing his deepest thoughts only to a very few intimate
friends； and treating all others with a courteous friendliness
which； though it put them quickly at their ease； did not encourage
them to approach any nearer。 Thus； while he was admired by the mass
of his followers； and beloved by the small inner group of family
friends； the great majority of his colleagues； official
subordinates； and political or ecclesiastical associates felt for
him rather respect than affection； and would have hesitated to give
him any of friendship's confidences。 It was regretfully observed
that though he was kindly and considerate； would acknowledge all
good service； and gladly offer to a junior an opportunity of
distinction； he seldom seemed sufficiently interested in any one of
his disciples to treat him with special favor or bestow those
counsels which a young man so much prizes from his chief。 But for
the warmth of his devotion to a few early friends and the reverence
he always paid to their memory； a reverence touchingly shown in the
article on Arthur Hallam which he published in 1898； sixty…five
years after Hallam's death； there might have seemed to be a measure
of truth in the judgment that he cared less for men than for ideas
and causes。 Those； however； who marked the pang which the departure
to the Roman Church of his friend Hope Scott caused him； those who
in later days noted the enthusiasm with which he would speak of Lord
Althorp； his opponent； and of Lord Aberdeen； his chief； dwelling
upon the beautiful truthfulness and uprightness of the former and
the sweet amiability of the latter； knew that the impression of
detachment he gave wronged the sensibility of his own heart。 Of how
few who have lived for more than sixty years in the full sight of
their countrymen； and have been as party leaders exposed to angry
and sometimes dishonest criticism； can it be said that ther