The papers of Tuesday announced officially the retirement of Mr.
Bryce from the Ambassadorship to the United States. During the last five years Mr. Bryce has filled his office with dignity and success. No appointment, perhaps, was ever more grateful to Americans than that of the chief English student of American institutions. His place will be hard to fill, but we are confident that no better choice could have been made than that of Sir Cecil Spring-Rise. Sir Cecil Spring. Rice will appeal to Americans as a scholar as well as an able diplomatist. Moreover, he is already well known in Washington, where he was formerly Secretary. We trust we shall not seem to be stepping outside the boundaries of dis- cretion if we add that in Lady Spring-Rice Washington will find itself possessed of a social asset of the highest value. The new Ambassadress not only knows the secret of "that inestimable art which softens and refines our social inter- course," but is a woman in whom sincerity of heart and of temper are as conspicuous and fundamental as kindly and generous good manners. But we dare not run on lest we provoke even her good-nature.
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