The Conservatives of Devon had a grand gathering on Thurs-
day, the 12th inst., at Torquay. The Earl of Devon, Lord F. Courtenay, Sir L. Palk, and other notables were present, but all seemed at a great loss for something to say, except indeed the Earl. He has been too well trained as chairman of public com- panies to hesitate, and poured out a fluent speech, showing that your true Conservative favoured education and the diffusion of wealth, and wished to improve the condition of the labouring classes, but dreaded the approach of democracy. He concluded by advocating economy with efficiency, and the maintenance of the Church. Sir L. Palk praised Sir Stafford Northcote, whose business in life, it appears, is to "look after that very ubiquitous person" Mr. Gladstone, Sir L. Palk holding apparently that the Chancellor of the Exchequer possesses an attribute beyond omni- presence, and can be everywhere and somewhere else besides all at once. For the rest, he recalled Earl Russell's effort to "rob the Irish Church," and held that all who voted against Lord Derby voted for destroying the Church and Constitution of England and for universal suffrage. Air. Kekewich was amusing, and de- clared he would never give a "hybrid assent "—what on earth is that?—to a "hybrid Government." The' only substantive pro- posal was made by Lord Churston, who said he thought we might employ any general as Inspector-General of Militia, and might reduce the number of clerks in the War Office—suggestions, we fear, not likely to save the country many millions.
