1 APRIL 1938, Page 21

THE STATESMAN'S NEED

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]

Sia,—In A Spectator's Notebook, " Janus " refers to an inter- esting passage in Sir Samuel Hoare's address to Reading Univer- sity, where he records a conversation between Lord Haldane, Lord Morley and the American statesman, Mr. Elihu Root. " They were discussing the chief qualities of public life. ' Elo- quence,' said one ; courage,' said another ; but they finally agreed upon Elihu Root's claim for ' patience.' " (p. 17).

One may compare with this the story recorded by Lord Brougham of the younger Pitt. " One day, when the conversa- tion turned upon the quality most required in a Prime Minister, and one said Eloquence, another Knowledge, and a third Toil, Mr. Pitt said, ' No ; Patience.' " (Stanhope's William Pitt, Vol. iv. 4o7).—Yours faithfully, CHARLES H. COLCHESTER.

Derby House, The Avenue, Colchester.