The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4036, 5 December 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1881.

Vißaiii, in his celebrated JEneid, recounts the adventures of iEneas over sea and land in search of fame and distinction. In one place in the first book we hare an account of his making a pilgrimage to the tomb of Polydorus,' and of conversing with the spirit of that highly respectable deceased gentleman, who had been consigned by the unhappy Priam to oblivion. Then we read of the passionate love entertained for iEneas by Queen Dido, and her subsequent self sacrifice upon a funeral pyre, because he was cruel enough to despise her affection. We again find that the elements are invoked against the adventurous traveller by the love-sick Queen, and -3201 us is commissioned to despatch Boreas, Zephyr us, and their windy companions to cause a storm, and swamp the fleet conveying the hero of the story. We find that the veteran seaman

•7 Palinurus was at a loss to account for the position of the fleet, and not until Neptune had quelled the storm, did the unhappy voyagers have any chance of taking their bearings. This, of, course we recognise as part truth, and part fiction, the poetical embellishments no doubt/being.the offspring of the. poet's fertile, imagination. And so, if in future years a poet jarises who will immortalise the Thames elections, we may rest assured that he will recount the history in a mixture of fact and fiction. iEneas, as depicted by Virgil would no doubt be transformed into one of the present candidates for the field* and the same characteristics would be applied to him—namely, an adventurer with no fixed object in view, with the exception of gaining a name and fame for himself at some one else's expense. He has no doubt recognised his political tomb at City East, and having communed with his defunct supporters, has come to the Thames with the object of gaining, a seat at the expense of Thames interests, and if elected would shove the same contempt for the constituency that returned him as Ji3neas evinced to the Queen, who adored him. He would, no doubt, consider that the people who returned him were honored because he condescended to stand, and would not hesitate to overlook the interests of those who voted in his behalf. The position appears to be the same with regard to the storm. Until Mr Sheehan, as Neptune, appeared definitely on the scene, the people of the Thames were in hopeless darkness, but now he has come they once more take heart,'and undoubtedly thank him for coming to the rescue. Not only do they do that, but we should imagine they will give him a decisive majority of votes in recognition of the many services he has rendered to the Thames. He is not like JEneas, and never has deserted the people who honored him with their choice, neither does he consider the people as a mere stepping stone to fame. It is curiou3 also to note the peculiar analogy of the fable with regard to the Grey party. Palinurus, as modernised into Sir George Grey, was utterly at sea as to the position of the Grey galliots, and not until the friendly help of Mr Sheehan as Neptune was obtained, did the party once more take heart. The' late member for -City East, as one of the great Pro Consul's Penates, was of course always at his side, but he required something more than household gods to confer with as to the exigencies of the party. He required a coadjutor who had power over the elements of the House, who could still the storm »nd replace it with calm, and that potent go. operator he found in our late junior member. He has ever,the ear of the House, has gained the respect of its membe andrs, is one of the saviours and leaders of the great Liberal party. As such he is more to be trusted than the other candidate, and we trust he will receive the majority of votes because he is not like jEneas.an adventurer; arid would not, if elected, forget the electors who honored him with their choice the moment he got in the House of Representatives