17 FEBRUARY 1877, Page 2

Mr. Samuelson was sharply snubbed by Sir Stafford Northcote on

Tuesday night, for asking whether the contents of the tele- graphic despatch of Lord Augustus Loftus announcing the Czar's pacific declarations, had been communicated to Lord Beaconsfield before the speech made at the Lord Mayor's dinner at Guildhall. "Yes, Sir, of course they had," was all Sir Stafford vouchsafed in reply. When you have nothing to say by way of apology for a very indefensible line of action, the best course, no doubt, is to snub sharply all curiosity as to its origin.