The latest additions to the Ministry were announced on Monday
and Wednesday. To begin with, a new Minister is added to the Cabinet in the shape of Lord Salisbury, who becomes Lord Privy Seal ; while Lord Londonderry obtains a promotion in the official hierarchy always greatly desired by Peers, and becomes Lord President of the Council. When that office is held by any one above a Viscount it carries very high precedence. Lord Salisbury while in the Commons as Lord Cranborne acquired a reputation for saying unfortunate things. His last was perhaps his worst. While the French Deputies were actually in the House of Commons as its guests, he thought fit to censure the French Government for their Clerical policy. Let us hope that as Lord Privy Seal he will have fewer opportunities for such " blazing indiscretions." His appointment is a proof of Mr. Balfour's unwillingness to bend to public opinion. An appointment which is, however, far more objectionable is that of Mr. Bromley- Davenport to be Financial Secretary to the War Office. This appointment we do not hesitate to describe as wholly unjusti- fiable in view of the extreme virulence of attacks made in the Commons only a few months ago on the Commander-in-Chief, attacks in which Mr. Bromley-Davenport was the leader and inspirer, even if he did not use the most violent language.
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