A deputation from the Montrose Burghs has invited Mr. John
Morley to come forward as the Radical candidate, in place of Mr. Shiress Will, Q.C., the sitting Member, who has announced his intention to retire. Mr. Morley was told that if there should be a contest, the constituency would defray its expense without calling on him ; and in reply, Mr. Morley states his " willing " acquiescence, "though I should not have been sorry for some further extension of my leisure." It is very likely that the seat may not be contested, and we should rather hope that it will not be. Mr. Morley, as the most sincerely and deeply convinced Home-ruler in the late Govern- ment, and the one leader in the Opposition ranks who has been compelled to master, and has mastered, most of the very many Irish questions which are sure to be discussed in the present Parliament, ought to be in the House; and as he is willing to be there, we should be sorry to think that the Unionists would oppose him. Whether it was worth his while to give up literature for barren discussions of political questions the issues of which are not likely to be very mach affected even by his knowledge and earnestness, we do not know. But we can well understand that having pledged himself so deeply as he has done to the Irish party, he might think it hardly bonenrable to neglect any good opportunity of returning to
the war. And, no doubt, he is greatly consoled for this early opportunity of doing so by the combativeness of a born debater.
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