Mr. Baines, on the contrary, was very prudent and sensible.
" The Education Act he regarded as the best measure that could be passed, under the circumstances." He was in favour of Army reform, and would vote for the removal of the Duke of Cambridge, if he should be found inefficient,—which is, however, not the charge against the Duke, but that before he could accept ex animo a great Army reform, he would have to be born again. With regard to the war, Mr. Baines " trusted the Government would use all friendly means of bringing it to a close, but would on no account suffer the country to be drawn into it." In a word, Mr. Baines was vexa- tiously ' safe' on all points. When we read Mr. Jacob Bright we can realize that the noble savage is the ancestor of us all, though Mr. Bright's savagery is all exhibited on behalf of tameness now. But Mr. Baines probably never had a savage ancestor. Even in the Stone Age, or the lake-dwellings, his ancestors must have been sensible, civic, and safe.
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