18 FEBRUARY 1899, Page 15

SIR ROBERT PEEL.

LTO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.1

SIB,—I have read with interest your first notice of "Sir Robert Peel" in the Spectator of February 11th, and, re- ferring to the epigrammatic remark of the Conservative Member, who, speaking of the relative merits of Disraeli and Gladstone, said : "I prefer our scoundrel to your lunatic," I venture to send you the version of it as heard by me from the lips of the Liberal Member to whom it was addressed, the late Mr. T. B. Potter. To him it was that the late Mr. Bromley Davenport, the bean id69.1 of the Tory country gentleman, said : " Your leader is a dangerous lunatic, mine only an unscrupulous rogue." But tempora mutantur, &e. Lord Beaconsfield died the hero and idol of the Conserva- tives, and Mr. Gladstone honoured by all.—I am, Sir, &c.,

ALFRED BONHA.31-CARTER.

Brooks'e, St. James's Street, February 15th.