The Premier.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3449, 14 January 1880, Page 2

The Premier.

The Hon. John Hall looks about fiftyfive years old. He is rather under the average stature, vrith small body and almost feminine shoulders. His forehead is large, prominent, high, with remarkably equal development, the back of the head being rather small. His eye is grey, watchful, patient, and inquiring. The brain power is evidently in excess of the nutritive apparatus, tb^e mental too strong for the vital nerves, and altogether he does not give at all the idea of the happy man with a hard head and a good stomach. He is a good every-day speaker, nothing very brilliant, and not a bit better on the greatest than on the smallest occasion. His most successful speeches are never the result of preparation or effort, but depend on favorable circumstances. But whilst he rarely rises very high, he never "sinks low as a speaker, but shows a wonderful store of I knowledge, the result of a powerful mind closely concentrated on his official duties. You could never imagine him reading a novel, extolling the qualities of port wine, or play ing lawn tennis. But the youngest clerk in the Telegraph Office is never sure that his work will not be personally inspected by the Premier. His voice is clear and pleasant when not strained, but does not reach very far. Those who know him best trust him most. But no one really doubts his integrity, although his opponents often amuse themselves by trying to make him resent their expressions of suspicion. His weak point is that he has not enough contempt for such attacks, and condescends to answer what he ought not to condescend-even to hear. He wants a more comfortable satisfied assurance of his own powers and unassailable reputation, and of his immeasurable superiority over the little Iry that try to annoy him, or of the arch deceivers that want to put him apparently on their own level. His present position must soon harden him, if it does not kill him. He is not Fox's equal for slashing, cutting reply. He is by no rae*ris Vogel's equal for plausible proposals. He is not Stafford's equal in talking constitutional history or spawning new Acts. But whilst he is loss brilliant than his predecessors on particular point's, he is free from their special weaknesses, and is more reliablt, because his powers are more general, and lie is free from their most dangerous defects. He stands far above Fox in his power of calculation, has none of Vogel's daring, dashing imprudence, and can give a confidence, to his colleagues, to his supporters, and his friends which Stafford never inspired.—Press's correspondent. ,