The most jealous precautions were taken on Lord Spencer's return
to Ireland to protect him from assassination. He was surrounded by dragoons, detectives filled the carriages behind him, and a tunnel under which he had to pass was occupied by armed police. Englishmen do not yet honour Earl Spencer enough. A great noble, with a large income, full of literary and artistic tastes, a favourite in society, and a man who enjoys it, he goes to Ireland, to live in momentary expectation of death from a bullet or an amputation-knife, solely in order to perform a public duty. He performs it so ably that a great organisation at war with Government and Society is being broken up, while he constantly rejects the "severe" counsels which men indignant at the spectacle offered by Ireland press on his attention. It is difficult to conceive a more self-sacrificing life than the one he is now leading, for which he will obtain in this world neither reward nor honour. The Irish dislike every Viceroy, and as no 'Vice- roy can perfectly succeed in Ireland, Englishmen scarcely perceive how well they are sometimes served by men whose danger is unlimited, while their powers are almost restricted to advice.
