18 SEPTEMBER 1897, Page 15

FOR BETTER AND FOR WORSE. [To Tar EDITOZ OF THZ

" BrZCTATOR.”]

Sin,—Your story of the child who wanted God to love -even when he was naughty reminds me that (calidi juventd) —more than thirty years ago—I asked my uncle, the late Mr. Cowper-Temple, whether there was likely to be truth in the report that a certain Conservative M.P., who had sometimes voted against his party, would be made a Peer by the Whigs. Being then a Cabinet Minister, the future Lord Mount Temple evaded my indiscreet question; but he did so with playful dexterity:—" — generally supports us when we are right ; but we like to have some one who will support us when we are wrong !" I hope I may be permitted to add that this -delightful and helpful friend of Maurice always seemed to me to deserve the praise which Chesterfield affirmed to have -been bestowed on Marlhorongli,—namely, that of being more gracious in his manner of declining to confer a favour than others were in their manner of conferring one. He was -emphatically suaviloquens.—I am, Sir, &c.,

LIONEL A. TOLLEMACHE.

Hotel Victoria, Glion. September 13th.