The year 1838 was the starting point of Atlantic Ocean racing. In that year the _Great Western_ and the _Sirius_ crossed in 18 days and 15 days respectively. The first Cunarder, the _Britannia_, appeared in 1840, and made the westward passage in 14 days. The following year she crossed eastward in 10 days. In 1851 the record was reduced to 9 days 18 hours westward by the _Baltic_, and 9 days 20 hours 16 min. eastward by the _Pacific_. In 1863 the _Scotia_, of the Cunard line, crossed eastward in 8 days 3 hours, and in the following year returned in 8 days 15 hours 45 min. Five years later the _City of Brussels_, of the Inman Line, travelled between New York and Liverpool in 7 days 22 hours 3 min., but the _Baltic_, of the White Star Line, lowered this by 2 hours four years later. The _Arizona_ and _Alaska_ improved the speed between 1880 and 1885, the latter making the passage eastward in 6 days 22 hours. The ill-fated _Oregon_ came eastward in 6 days 11 hours 9 min. in 1884, while the _Etruria_ went westward in 6 days 1 hour 55 min. In 1889 the _City of Paris_ lowered the eastward and westward journeys to 5 days 22 hours 50 min., and 5 days 19 hours 18 min., respectively, while two years later the _Teutonic_ reduced this still further by 3 hours each way. Finally the _Campania_ and _Lucania_ appeared in 1893, the latter establishing the record eastwards of 5 days 8 hours 38 min. and westwards of 5 days 7 hours 23 min. Mails have been carried per the _Lucania_ between New York Post Office and the London Central Office in 156·7 hours.] The spokesman of the angry Tories was one of whom much was to be heard in coming years. Benjamin Disraeli had done nothing as yet to redeem the apparently hopeless failure of his maiden speech in 1837. Outwardly, a remarkable figure enough, in a Parliamentary sense he was no more than obscure when he rose from his seat on the Government benches to lead the first attack on the new policy. He was bitter, he was personal, but he was adroitly opportune; and his fame as a statesman dates from that day. [Sidenote: Defeat and Resignation of the Government.] [Illustration: _G. F. Watts, R.A._} {_In the National Portrait Gallery._ THE SEVENTH EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, 1801-1885. The Rt. Hon. Anthony Ashley-Cooper entered Parliament, as M.P. for Woodstock, in 1826. He was then known as Lord Ashley. In 1842 he secured the exclusion of women and children from mines, and in 1844 the passing of the Ten Hours Bill. He succeeded to the Earldom in 1851. His life was devoted to practical philanthropy.] The immediate result was a split--a secession. The House of Commons ratified Peel's policy by a majority of ninety-seven, but Disraeli himself has put on record the feelings which animated Peel's ancient supporters. "Vengeance had succeeded in most breasts to the more sanguine sentiment: the field was lost, but at any rate there should be retribution for those who had betrayed it."