Mr. Gambetta still remains, as his observers say, "in the
cloud." He has as yet put forward no programme, except the very vague one read last week, and is, apparently, disposed to wait till the December Recess is over, or even till the Senatorial elections in February are complete. The Opposi- tion are unwilling to interpellate him, lest he should have an easy victory, and his friends either understand or respect his silence. The journals try to draw him out by suggesting that he is planning war, and the Senate by refusing to elect his friends to vacant life seats ; but he remains obstin- ately quiet. We imagine the truth is that he has still much business to do before he is ready to do anything, that he is studying the iuformation only to be acquired in office, and that his colleagues are as yet far from fixed in their saddles. What with electricity and daily papers. politicians begin to expect that all affairs shall advance in the catastrophic manner, and are consumed with impatience if Premiers find it necessary to think, to prepare, or even to sleep. Affairs do not move so quickly, especially when strong men get to the top. It is weak men who feel that the " pressure of opinion " compels them to begin everything prematurely, lest the house should be wrecked, and the curtain torn down.
