ABSTRACT
The Conservative party remains the longest-established major political party in modern British history. This collection makes available 19th century documents illuminating aspects of Conservatism through a critical period in the party’s history, from 1830 to 1874. It throws light on Conservative ideas, changing policies, party organisation and popular partisan support, showing how Conservatism evolved and responded to domestic and global change. It explores how certain clusters of ideas and beliefs comprised a Conservative view of political action and purposes, often reinforcing the importance of historic institutions such as the Anglican Church, the monarchy and the constitution. It also looks at the ways in which a broadening electorate required the marshalling of Conservative supporters through greater party organisation, and how the Conservative party became the embodiment and expression of durable popular political sentiment. The collection examines how the Conservative party became a body seeking to deliver progress combined with stability.
The documents brought together in this collection give direct voice to how Conservatives of the period perceived and extolled their aspirations, aims, and the values of Conservatism. Introductory essays highlight the main themes and nature of Conservatism in a dynamic age of change and how the Conservative axiom, in an imperfect world of successful adaptation, being essential to effective preservation informed and defined the Conservative party, the views of its leaders, the beliefs of its supporters, and the political outlook they espoused. This first volume covers the period 1830-1850.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part 1|92 pages
The Conservative Party, 1830–1834
chapter 1|7 pages
‘Our “Confession of Faith”’
chapter 2|32 pages
‘The Present Balance of Parties in the State, and the Results of the Reform Bill’
chapter 3|7 pages
‘Duties of the Conservative Party’
chapter 4|34 pages
‘The State and Prospects of Toryism, January 1834’
part 2|52 pages
Tamworth Conservatism, 1834–1835
chapter 5|22 pages
‘Sir Robert Peel’s Address to the Electors of the Borough of Tamworth’
chapter 6|11 pages
Opposition Without Faction, Sir R Peel’s Address Examined. By a Conservative Whig
chapter 7|10 pages
‘The Editor of the Globe, Sir Robert Peel, and His Last Tamworth Oration Shortly Considered’
part 3|177 pages
Governing in Opposition, 1835–1841
chapter 8|19 pages
‘Conservative Associations’
chapter 9|27 pages
William Paul, A History of the Origin and Progress of the Operative Conservative Societies
chapter 10|19 pages
James Cleland, Description of the Banquet Given in Honour of the Right Hon Sir Robert Peel on His Election as Lord Rector of the University of Glasgow, etc
chapter 11|3 pages
Robert Peel, Address to the Electors of the Borough of Tamworth, on the Close of the Poll, July 25, 1837
chapter 12|11 pages
Robert Peel, Tamworth Election Dinner. Speech of Sir Robert Peel at Tamworth, August 7, 1837, Including the O’Connell and Ruthven Correspondence on the Kildare County Election
chapter 13|21 pages
The Peel Banquet. Speeches of the Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., Lord Stanley, Sir James Graham, Bart., at Merchant Tailors’ Hall
chapter 14|10 pages
Robert Peel, Speech of Sir R Peel Delivered in the House of Commons, May 13, 1839, on Resigning the Attempt to Form a Ministry
chapter 15|24 pages
Robert Peel, Speech in the House of Commons [Jan 31 st 1840] on Sir J Yarde Buller’s Motion on Want of Confidence in the Government
chapter 16|17 pages
Robert Peel, Conservative Speeches. Painter’s Editions. The Corn Laws: Sir R Peel’s Speech on Mr Villiers’ Motion in the House of Commons, 1840
part 4|96 pages
The Year of Victory, 1841