15 NOVEMBER 1879, Page 1

A rumour that the Attorney-General, Sir John biker, who has

returned his private briefs, was about to be raised to the Bench as Lord Chief Baron, was on Wednesday denied by Sir John, who telegraphed to Preston that his briefs have been returned "be- cause he has decided not to attend to private practice this term, having to devote almost his whole attention to important official work." That sounds like preparing the new Criminal Code for the Government, or work of a similar kind, which would clearly imply another Session, and not a barren Session either. But it is not often that an Attorney-General refuses all his most lucrative practice, for work of that scientific sort, and possibly some more important career may be opening before Sir John Holker, with which his private business is incompatible. There are rumours of changes in the Cabinet.Can Sir John Holker, who is the most virulent of Russophobists, be expecting translation to that more august political region ?