NEWS OF THE WEEK.
DEATH has been harvesting this week. Mr. W. H. Smith, the First Lord of the Treasury and Leader of the House of Commons, died at Walmer Castle on Tuesday, the ,6th inst., at the age of sixty-six. He had been more or leas ill for many . months, chiefly with gout ; but though he thought seriously of his own condition, his friends had no fear for his life. Of late, however, he had shown signs of some latent heart-disease, increased by his unremitting atten- tion to his laborious work in the House of Commons, and on Friday week his illness took a serious form. He lingered for four days in much pain, but expired on Tuesday in compara- tive peace. The event has created a kind of explosion of regard and esteem. Mr. Smith had probably not an enemy in the world, even among the Irish Members, though they were always accusing his firm of selling Unionist pam- phlets on the railway bookstalls ; and as Leader, his judgment, fairness, and immoveable firmness had won the confidence of both sides of the House, and materially facilitated the application of the Closure. He was, in truth, 'a fine example of the best kind of middle-class statesman, without genius or much initiative, but with clear insight, end- less industry, and a temper so fine that it was as good as a special faculty. Nobody could manage contentious business so well, and his strong, clear sense makes him a severe loss even to an able Cabinet. His post will not be filled up until Lord Salisbury returns, but it is understood that Sir Michael Hicks-Beach will become First Lord of the Treasury, and with the assistance, or rather supervision, of Mr. Gosehen, will lead the House till the dissolution. Till then, Mr. Balfour cannot abandon his many duties as Irish Secretary, which will be much complicated by the death of Mr. Parnell, who would have supported the Irish Local Government Bill.
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