THE LEADERS OF THE LORDS.

Southland Times, Issue 1619, 13 August 1872, Page 3

THE LEADERS OF THE LORDS.

The London correspondent of the Liverpool Albion writes : — The Marquis of Eipon is in his place on the Ministerial bench in the Lords nightly, and he answers for the Government on educational, ecclesiastical, or military matters, with all that aplomb and indulgence in platitude for which he was remarkable when, as Lord Godrich, he sat in the Commons, and which never have failed him since by the process of " natural selection" be was transferred to his place in the Lords, where, as a successor to his father, he sits as Lord Ripon, and as successor to his uncle as Lord De Grey. O'Connell once described his uncle, when Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as a " good-humored good for nothing fellow." It cannot be said of the Marquis that he is good for nothing. He keeps a splendid house in Carlton Gardens, gives capital dinners, has a hospitable wife, and makes himself generally useful. Nor is he without ability, though he may not be altogether so clever as he supposes. The courteous Granville has a very happy knack of avoiding embarrassing interrogatories. He does suffer severely from gout ; but for a Minister who knows how to " work it," even the physical affliction of gout has its advantages. Yesterday week he was called out of the House by a messenger, who informed him that . General Schenck, the American Minister, was waiting for him at the Foreign Office. Of course all the world knew by Friday morning that Mr Fish's despatch was m the noble Earl's hand ; and, as no doubt he had anticipated, the Richmonds, and Salisburys, and Derbys, and Malmesburys, &c., were all in their places on Friday evening, each ready, in case of failure by the other, to tackle Granville on the despatch. But that troublesome gout which had nearly left him on Thursday — so nearly that he was able to run out of the House when he received General Schenck'a message — came on with an obstinate virulence towards Friday afternoon, and there was no amelioration of the relapse until their lordships had adjourned. Happily, the noble Earl was so much better on Saturday, when neither House sits, as to be able to attend the Cabinet Council. He is deservedly a great favorite. A more polished man does not exist ; and though he can say very cutting things when occasion requires, nothing can surpass the conciliatory manner in which he leads the House of Lords. He is a model gentleman, and just the same thing may be said of the Duke of Richmond, the leader of the Opposition. It is really an instructive pleasure to see how the two manage and give a tone to their respective forces. The Commons can show nothing like it.