Lord Lytton has sent in Isis resignation, and has been
created an Earl, an honour which he deserves, at all events for his fidelity to his chief. A man of extreme cleverness, though not of ability, and of great power of work, he was selected to carry out a theatrie policy, and did carry it out, riding into Delhi on an elephant with a painted head, and making war for effect, both in the same fashion. He was not a great actor, mistaking tawdriness for grandeur, but he was a great stage-manager, and especially adroit in. the manipu- lation of his claque. All special correspondents upheld him, and bitter criticisms only reached England in private letters. His rule was a misfortune for India, but he obeyed orders, and has been rewarded. Lord john Manners and Sir Stafford Northcote have also been rewarded, with G.C.B.'s. There is no possible objection, Lord John having been quite harmless, and Sir Stafford's wretched finance probably involuntary; but just imagine what the chief, though he took a. Garter for himself, must think of it all,—of the social system which makes a broad ribbon compensation to a Leader of the Commons for playing the part of Sir Orlando Drought. Mr. Trollope is avenged upon his critics.
Previous page
