Sir George Grey, a Whig administrator of mark, half- forgotten
by this generation, died at Falloden, Northumberland, on the 9th inst. He was through a long life a useful politician, though with no pretension to originality; and in April, 1848, he performed, as Home Secretary, a great service to his country. He refused to lose his head, and his cool nerve materially assisted to check disorder. We have spoken of his position in politics elsewhere, but there was one peculiarity of it to which we may devote a word here also. Sir George Grey was in a marked degree one of those statesmen who are raised to power not by the people, but by colleagues who know their value, or need their support. It is most beneficial to the State to be able to use such men, men good in counsel and at work, though not much able to persuade ; and it is supposed that as demo- cracy advances, we shall lose them. Is that quite so certain Will the democracy insist on choosing Ministers, or will it choose a Minister, and leave him free to select colleagues P We incline to the latter belief, which is certainly justified by the history of Lord Beaconsfield. So far as we know, his frequent selection of dummy colleagues was not only not resented, but not noticed by the public. He could have chosen administrators of the Grey type just as readily.
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