1st Edition
Contemporary Thought on Nineteenth Century Conservatism 1830-1850
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 second volume continues covering the period 1830-1850.
Volume 2
Edited by Richard Gaunt
Part 5. A Financial Minister, 1842-46
1.Robert Peel, Speech in the House of Commons, February 9th, 1842, on the Corn Laws (John Murray: London, 1842), 3-51.
2.Robert Peel, Speech on the financial condition of the country on March 11th, 1842; with the Schedules containing the new custom duties, and the tax upon property and income. Carefully revised (W.E.Painter: London, 1842), 3-24.
3.‘Sir Robert Peel’s Policy’, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 51 (April 1842), 537-552.
4.‘Review of Conservative Publications’, Quarterly Review, 70 (September 1842), 485-531.
5.Robert Peel, Speeches May 6th and 20th, 1844, on the Renewal of the Bank Charter, and the state of the law respecting Currency and Banking (John Murray: London, 1844), 54-80.
6.‘Ministerial Measures’, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 365/59 (March 1846), 373-384.
7.Robert Peel, Speech on the Repeal of the Corn Laws, May 15, 1846 (1846), 231-260.
8.‘The Late and the Present Ministry’, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 60 (August 1846), 249-260.
9.‘Close of Sir Robert Peel’s Administration’, Quarterly Review, 78 (August 1846), 535-580.
Part 6. Conservative Disunion, 1847-50
10.Robert Peel, Letter from Sir Robert Peel to the electors for the Borough of Tamworth, 4th edition (James Bain: London, 1847), 1-35.
11.Britannicus, Political Principles. An answer to the letter from Sir Robert Peel, Bart, to his constituents, 2nd edition (John Ollivier: London, 1847), 3-20.
12.‘Conservative Union’, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, 64 (November 1848), 632-640.
13.‘The Conservative Party’, Fraser’s Magazine for Town and Country, 39/230 (February 1849), 224-236.
14. Anglicanus, The State of the Nation; or, an Inquiry into the effects of free trade principles upon British industry and taxation, in which the arguments of Sir Robert Peel in reply to Mr Disraeli are investigated and refuted (Hearne: London, 1849), 3-64.
15.Robert Peel, Speech in the House of Commons, June 28, 1850, on Mr Roebuck’s motion (1850), 3-24.
16.‘Sir Robert Peel’, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine 419, 68(September 1850), 354-372.
Biography
Angus Hawkins is Professor of Modern British History at Oxford University and a Fellow of Keble College
Richard Gaunt is Associate Professor in the Department of History, University of Nottingham, UK
