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through a superior faculty for gliding adroitly to the front
rank？ And； in any case； by what odd chances； what shifts and
struggles； what combinations of circumstance and character； had
this old man come to be where he was？ Such questions are easier
to ask than to answer； but it may be instructive； and even
amusing； to look a little more closely into the complexities of
so curious a story。
I
UNDOUBTEDLY； what is most obviously striking in the history of
Manning's career is the persistent strength of his innate
characteristics。 Through all the changes of his fortunes the
powerful spirit of the man worked on undismayed。 It was as if the
Fates had laid a wager that they would daunt him； and in the end
they lost their bet。
His father was a rich West Indian merchant； a governor of the
Bank of England； a Member of Parliament； who drove into town
every day from his country scat in a coach and four； and was
content with nothing short of a bishop for the christening of his
children。 Little Henry； like the rest； had his bishop； but he was
obliged to wait for himfor as long as eighteen months。 In those
days； and even a generation later； as Keble bears witness； there
was great laxity in regard to the early baptism of children。 The
delay has been noted by Manning's biographer as the first
stumbling…block in the spiritual life of the future Cardinal； but
he surmounted it with success。
His father was more careful in other ways。 'His refinement and
delicacy of mind were such；' wrote Manning long afterwards； 'that
I never heard out of his mouth a word which might not have been
spoken in the presence of the most pure and sensitiveexcept；'
he adds； 'on one occasion。 He was then forced by others to repeat
a negro story which； though free from all evil de sexu； was
indelicate。 He did it with great resistance。 His example gave me
a hatred of all such talk。'
The family lived in an atmosphere of Evangelical piety。 One day
the little boy came in from the farmyard； and his mother asked
him whether he had seen the peacock。 'I said yes； and the nurse
said no； and my mother made me kneel down and beg God to forgive
me for not speaking the truth。' At the age of four the child was
told by a cousin of the age of six that 'God had a book in which
He wrote down everything we did wrong。 This so terrified me for
days that I remember being found by my mother sitting under a
kind of writing…table in great fear。 I never forgot this at any
time in my life；' the Cardinal tells us； 'and it has been a great
grace to me。' When he was nine years old he 'devoured the
Apocalypse； and I never all through my life forgot the 〃lake that
burneth with fire and brimstone〃。 That verse has kept me like an
audible voice through all my life； and through worlds of danger
in my youth。'
At Harrow the worlds of danger were already around him； but yet
he listened to the audible voice。 'At school and college I never
failed to say my prayers； so far as memory serves me； even for a
day。' And he underwent another religious experience： he read
Paley's Evidences。 'I took in the whole argument；' wrote Manning；
when he was over seventy； 'and I thank God that nothing has ever
shaken it。' Yet on the whole he led the unspiritual life of an
ordinary schoolboy。 We have glimpses of him as a handsome lad；
playing cricket； or strutting about in tasselled Hessian top…
boots。 And on one occasion at least he gave proof of a certain
dexterity of conduct which deserved to be remembered。 He went out
of bounds； and a master； riding by and seeing him on the other
side of a field； tied his horse to a gate； and ran after him。 The
astute youth outran the master； fetched a circle； reached the
gate； jumped on to the horse's back and rode off。 For this he was
very properly chastised； but； of what use was chastisement？ No
whipping； however severe； could have eradicated from little
Henry's mind a quality at least as firmly planted in it as his
fear of Hell and his belief in the arguments of Paley。
It had been his father's wish that Manning should go into the
Church； but the thought disgusted him； and when he reached
Oxford； his tastes； his ambitions； his successes at the Union；
all seemed to mark him out for a political career。 He was a year
junior to Samuel Wilberforce； and a year senior to Gladstone。 In
those days the Union was the recruiting…ground for young
politicians； Ministers came down from London to listen to the
debates； and a few years later the Duke of Newcastle gave
Gladstone a pocket borough on the strength of his speech at the
Union against the Reform Bill。 To those three young men； indeed；
the whole world lay open。 Were they not rich； well…connected； and
endowed with an infinite capacity for making speeches？ The event
justified the highest expectations of their friends； for the
least distinguished of the three died a bishop。 The only danger
lay in another direction。 'Watch； my dear Samuel；' wrote the
elder Wilberforce to his son； 'watch with jealousy whether you
find yourself unduly solicitous about acquitting yourself；
whether you are too much chagrined when you fail； or are puffed
up by your success。 Undue solicitude about popular estimation is
a weakness against which all real Christians must guard with the
utmost jealous watchfulness。 The more you can retain the
impression of your being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses of
the invisible world； to use the scripture phrase； the more you
will be armed against this besetting sin。' But suddenly it seemed
as if such a warning could； after all； have very little relevance
to Manning； for； on his leaving Oxford； the brimming cup was
dashed from his lips。 He was already beginning to dream of
himself in the House of Commons； the solitary advocate of some
great cause whose triumph was to be eventually brought about by
his extraordinary efforts； when his father was declared a
bankrupt； and all his hopes of a political career came to an end
forever。
It was at this time that Manning became intimate with a pious
lady； the sister of one of his College friends； whom he used to
describe as his Spiritual Mother。 He made her his confidante； and
one day； as they walked together in the shrubbery； he revealed
the bitterness of the disappointment into which his father's
failure had plunged him。 She tried to cheer him； and then she
added that there were higher aims open to him which he had not
considered。 'What do you mean？' he asked。 'The kingdom of
Heaven；' she answered； 'heavenly ambitions are not closed against
you。' The young man listened； was silent； and said at last that
he did not know but she was right。 She suggested reading the
Bible together； and they accordingly did so during the whole of
that Vacation； every morning after breakfast。 Yet； in spite of
these devotional exercises； and in spite of a voluminous
correspondence on religious subjects with his Spiritual Mother；
Manning still continued to in