NEWS OF TELE WEEK
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fri" crisis " has been transacting itself somewhat slowly throughout the week. Lord Beaconsfield has resigned. Lord Hartington has been sent for and has declined the Premiership, and both Lord Hartington and Lord Granville were on Friday with the Queen. It was fully understood that Mr. Gladstone must ultimately be sent for, but there appear to be delays of form, which in the provinces are creating extra- ordinary irritation. We indicated last week our own belief as to the composition of the Cabinet, and have nothing to add, except that we fear a doubtful piece of policy, the appointment of a Royal Prince as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, will be pressed on it. The public has been hungering for details all the week, and long lists of probable minor appointments have appeared in several jour- nals; but everybody is a great deal too impatient. Until the Premiership has been settled, nothing can be finally determined ; and when it is settled, the filling-up of subordinate offices is a work governed by so many considerations, that prediction is valueless. It is ridiculous, for example, to select an Under-Secre- tary before it is certain, whether his chief will be in the Lords or Commons, and impossible to exclude a certain element of personal opinion. A Cabinet Minister is not often asked to accept a subordinate with whom he cannot work in cordiality- We shall all know all about it next week, and till then can only hope that the Ministry will have a strong infusion of new blood.
