_The Saturday_ alone, in the Press, weekly as well as daily, noticed the attacks on evangelicalism as follows: “Mr. Prong is not an unfair representation of the lower clerical order in provincial towns; but the accuracy of the portrait does not make it a pleasant study, the foolish language, the pert fanaticism and the petty tricks of the worst evangelical class are not agreeable reading. Whatever of comic there is in them is soon exhausted unless the author glaringly exaggerates every symptom to spice his description.” The compliments forthcoming by the famous weekly then under Douglas Cook’s absolute editorial control, but owned by Beresford Hope and generally reflecting its proprietor’s antipathies to all forms and expression of faith not distinctly Anglo-Catholic, admit of another explanation than its natural benediction on the religious portraits drawn by a writer who was then so much in its own way of thinking as Trollope. In 1864 Anthony Trollope’s _North America_ had received such sharp treatment in _The Saturday Review_ that his friends, G. H. Lewes and the famous lady bearing his name, were concerned to find some way of counteracting what they called the nasty notice. Eventually, some time later, Lewes himself did justice to Trollope’s transatlantic experiences in _The Fortnightly Review_.
Before that he had succeeded in influencing an important section of the political Press in Trollope’s favour. Trollope’s next experiment in fiction, as well as certain events in his life connected with it, will form the subject of the next chapter.
Failures of literary men in the political world at the beginning of the nineteenth century--Trollope increases the number by going under at Beverley--“Not in, but in at the death”--_Ralph the Heir_--Its plots and politics--Trollope as editor of _The St. Paul’s Magazine_--_Phineas Finn_--Some remarks on Trollope’s _Palmerston_--In the heart of political society--The hero’s flirtations and fights in London--His final return to the old home and friends--_Phineas Redux_--Again in London--Charged with murder--Madame Goesler’s double triumph--Some probable caricatures--Trollope renews acquaintance with Planty Pal and his wife in _The Prime Minister_--The close of the political series comes with _The Duke’s Children_.