THE RIGHT HON. BENJAMIN DISRAELI, author and statesman,was born in London 1805; he received a private education, which was carefully superintended by his father. In 1827, he published his novel, Vivian Grey, which was succeeded at intervals by other brilliant works of fiction, including The Young Duke, Contarini Fleming, The Wondrous Tale of Alroy, and Henrietta Temple. At the age of 32, he took his seat in the House of Commons. His maiden speech, which was in a high-flown style, and delivered with extravagant gestures, excited the laughter of the House of Commons. He was so much disconcerted that he stopped short abruptly, but not without uttering the remarkable prophecy: "I shall sit down now, but the time will come when you will hear me." It was not till 1849, that he began to attract notice, and not long afterwards he gained the ear of the House as the leader of the Young England party. After entering parliament, Disraeli wrote several novels - Coningsby (1844), Sybil (1845), and Tancred (1847), in which the principles of Young England are most ingeniously blended with inaccurate scientific notions and misconceptions of English social life. In 1822, the Earl of Derby, having undertaken the construction of a cabinet, offered him the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was the first time that a brilliant novelist had ever figured as the finance minister of a great commercial state, and it argues well for the versatility of his genius that he emerged with honor and credit from the ordeal. In 1859, he introduced a measure of parliamentary reform, which being thrown out, was followed by the resignation of the government. For seven years the Liberals remained in power, and Mr. Disraeli in opposition, displayed talents as a debater, and a spirit and persistency under defeat, that won for him the admiration of his opponents. When Lord Derby again returned to power in 1866, Disraeli again returned to the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. When out of office in 1870, Disraeli published another novel, Lothair, marked by most of the merits and defects of those which had preceded it. In 1873, the popularity of Mr. Gladstone rapidly subsided, and the new election of 1874, giving the Conservatives a large majority, Disraeli returned to power as prime-minister. In 1877, he took his seat in the upper house, as the Earl of Beaconsfield. Still premier, the Earl was the guiding spirit of his cabinet during 1877-1878, seeking by energetic action in Eastern affairs, to give an "imperial" character to English policy. He died in London on the 19th of April, 1881.