15 NOVEMBER 1879, Page 3

The carelessness with which men sometimes get up their cases

was curiously illustrated by a deputation which visited the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth on Thursday. The deputation consisted of leading Trades Unionists, and they went to complain of some furious statements against Trades Unions and Agricultural Unions quoted in the "Reading- book, Standard V.," issued by the National Society, of which the Archbishop of Canterbury is President. It was discovered that the members did not know that the sen- tences were written by Archbishop Whately ; that they thought he died in the last century ; and that they were wholly -unaware of the condition of affairs in Ireland, which he with great courage had intended to denounce. They were quite sur- prised to hear he was a strong Liberal, and listened with the interest of men who are being instructed to a little lecture from Dr. Tait on the character and capacity of his brilliant friend. 'The whole scene was a singular illustration of the worst danger of democracy,—its readiness, whenever it is sure of its own motives, to act without asking i evidence. The book, which pro- 'duces a false impression, and s too severe on associations now perfectly legal, has very properly been withdrawn.