The vacancy in the Cabinet has not yet been filled
up, and all manner of rumours are afloat. Everybody is to go to the Board of Trade, except perhaps 113r. Gladstone, Mr. Merriman, and Sir George Jenkinson. To-day Lord Hartington is to take it, to- morrow Mr. Mundane, next day Mr. Chichester Fortescue, and then again Mr. Cardwell. The only thing certain, meanwhile, is that the Radicals have a right to the seat ; that their representative is Mr. Stansfeld ; and that any other selection will cause great dis- content, unless indeed some other should afford an opportunity for translating Mr. Cardwell. Could he not be made a Duke, or an Archdeacon, or a Poor Law Guardian, or anything else for which he is exceptionally fit? The country would not grudge him any honour or any office, if only he would go quietly out of the War Office, and let us have a chance of getting a man there who will act, instead of explaining so sensibly and nicely why he doesn't.
