As Sir Matthew Ridley has not been elected to the
new House of Commons, he has resigned his post as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, which is to be conferred, or has already been conferred, on Mr. Jackson, the Member for North Leeds. We do not know what Mr. Jackson (who has only represented Leeds since 1880, and certainly did not distinguish himself in the last Parliament) has done to deserve this sudden promotion. He is a Director of the Great Northern Railway Company, and a large leather dealer ; but we do not know on what his claims to the possession of distinguished financial capacity may be founded. One of the most mysterious features in this short Conservative Govern- ment has been its use of patronage. Mr. Alderson's appoint- ment was certainly not that of the man best suited for the work to be done on the Charitable Trusts Commission. Mr. Graham's appointment as Clerk of the Parliaments was as signal a job as we can recollect. And if Mr. Jackson makes a distinguished financier, it will assuredly be a surprise to the House of Commons.
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