THE RETIREMENT OF MR GLADSTONE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 302, 20 December 1881, Page 4

THE RETIREMENT OF MR GLADSTONE.

Wes it in simple official compliment, or with a deeper feeling, that the Prime Minister at Leer's ooßde co marked an allusion to the time wben be must lay .aside the burden of State ? These are the words us?-, by the right honorable gentleman: "It is for me a great a.tir. faction to think, especially at my time of life, tliat you do not depend upon my life, or upon the life of any otber m.n, but particularly not upon mine; and I wish row to repeat in this hall one thing only of what I said, or endeavored to cay, in a speech of yesterday: tbat when the time comes, and come it must very sood, when I cease to be able to csrry on tbe duties wi-h wbich I am now ectrus.ed, there nre two men poezeeeed already of your confidence, already en_hrioed in your affections, already tested by lon<? experience, to whom I well know ihat with safety and with advanisre theseduties may pss3 over — and these two men, with other and fresher years in varices degrees of the future before them, will serve ycu, not, perhope, with greater sincerity " — cries of "No," and cheers— "but in auch o manner as I know will secure your confidence and Ml ach ment. These two men, I nerd cot fay, are Lord Granville in the one Hcuse of Parliament. and Lord Hsriir^-ion iv the oih.r." If we were ?.o reci *?, ci.h-r by ihe proofs o* pxh .uelleta energy w^ ih th<Premier afforde, or by (he v_ish which ail bis countrymen mu.t feel that hmay long erjoy asd ex.-rcise inch magnificent {-jilts, mer, tal aod physi a ! , the inciinaiion everywhere would be to 7 regard -this langui^e merely as conveying a tribute of honor aud grati u 'o to political aMQcia.es. Thst conciuaion

wonld be strengthened by tbe recollectioo .hat Mr Gladstone has already "derorated" with Parliamentary praise his Irish Chief Secretary, aod found bo occasion durirg .he Leer's pilgrimege to eulogise Mr Brigh'. It is significant, however, that twice io tbe course of his Yoiki-'hire nrcfionr** lie fas specially' mentioned Lord Granville and Lord H.;rtington io connection -with the day whioh rr.uet come an.s the dutifa wbich rnu-Dt -?e«eecd.