Journalist, Politician, and Diplomat.

Manawatu Herald, 12 July 1892, Page 3

Journalist, Politician, and Diplomat.

Sir Algernon Borthwick, Bart., M.P., who is specially en evidence just now in connection with the Primrose League and the Society of Journalists, not forgetting his presidency for the year ot the Newsvendors' Association, has had an interesting career both as journalist and politician. His connection with the Morning Post dates from its earliest days. He has edited it for twenty-five years. His father reprepresented Evesham in Parliament. Sir Algernon was intimately acquainted with Lord Palmerston, and was the medium selected by Lord Beaconßfield for conveying to the ex-Empress of the French the saddeßt intelligence of the latter days of the Zulu war. In many international affairs Sir Algernon's advice has been sought and acted upon both by foreign and English Minis ters. He is a man of frank and courtly manners, and his generous disposition has endeared him to a large circle of friends. He commenced his journalistic career as Paris correspondent of his paper when France was under the rule of the prince-president. • His active acquaintance with politics began in the salons of Lady Normanby and the Duchess of Grammont, in the exciting days of 1851. Although, as I said before, comp'aint is made of the absence of a great social political centre in Londan, the receptions of Lady Borthwick may be mentioned as events of a more or less political character. Lady Borthwick (a niece of the late Lord Clarendon, and allied to the families of Villiars and Russell) as a leader in " the great world " possesses special qualifications for her high and useful social position. " The salt ot the earth," royal, political, and artistic, meet in her drawing rooms, and never find her receptions dull. My experience is not exten" sive in the circles where a commoner is the exception ; such as it is I do not find it inimical to the pleasant go-as-you-please evenings which were once so common in the artistic Bociety of London ; and when I mention the past glory of these affairs I ought not to forget those of the Trubuners, the Hepworth Dixons, and Mrs Maine, now Lady Seton. — People.