LORD BEACONSFIELD AND HIS PROMISE.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3156, 31 March 1879, Page 3

LORD BEACONSFIELD AND HIS PROMISE.

V 'Itseerijs t^at about twelve, years ago a deputation from the committee of the Leeds Mechanics: Institute waited upon. Ih'sraeli, who was at Manchester on %, spme public , event; and invited him to preside at the next annual soiree of the ( Leeds Institution. Mr Disraeli pleaded numerous engagements, and declined the invitation. He was then asked if the - following or next following year would MSuit him,, the deputation pressing him ? hard to visit Leeds. To this pressure, however, he declined to yield, and in order 'to rid; Jhimself of hi 3 tormenting Mr Disraeli exclaimed, "Well - '^'wnryjstjou this time ten ; years." „jThe :|ten ry^ars haying elapsed, an interview with "'.tKejPremi^rifas obtained recently in Lonladnby Mr Thomas pawson, who reminded t „t|ie ; ; his promise, and asked ; Jbjmjqfix the Day when he would attend .;,tbe annual soiree at Leeds. Mr Disraeli ..^rat^itakeu by surprise; he was in! a fiqiW&rj- But he'laughed at the idea ppf being- expected to keep such a long j ' rpromise^ ■ .*•-. S upposei" said he, ,•' I had : ?had been made Viceroy of ■ India instead ' of Prime Minister of England, would you '•hawexpected inß%o come back from that oountryP" The reply was, "But you r arinot Viceroy of India. You are in ■ England, and you can visit Leeds if. you "wish to. keep your promise." This was a poser, and the Premier tried another tack, "Did you really," said' lie in his blandest manner, (;•' expect;when I made the promise, nearly ten years ago, that I should keep itP" /'Sir," said Mr Dawson, in a

severe tone, "I expected you to keep .your word at the end of ten years as fefjllly as though you had promised to visit us at the end of ten weeks or ten days." Pausing a little, the Prime Minister, with - a twinkle in his eyes, said, " Dear me ! Another proof of the faith in me that exists in this country !" , . ;