We deeply regret to record the death of Sir Mountstuart
Grant Duff, which took place in London on Friday, the 12th inst. Sir Mountstuart was distinguished as a political thinker and student in days when the instructed politician was not so common as he is now. Soon after leaving Balliol he entered Parliament, and at once began to form those friendships with foreign statesmen, as well as with statesmen of both parties here, for which he was renowned. His knowledge of foreign politics was very great, and his Elgin addresses—given at the beginning of every year to his constituents—were always eagerly read by those who desired to see the trend of inter. national events treated by an expert. A year before the Home-rule split Mr. Grant Duff, who was then Under-Secretary for the Colonies, went out to Madras as Governor, and during five years of great stress and strain at home quietly adminis- tered his Indian province. When he returned to England Sir Mountstuart abandoned politics and pursued what might be called the business of intellectual society. Few men have belonged to so many clubs and societies, or attended them so regularly, or, again, have been so universally welcomed by their members. All his life Sir Mountstuart kept a diary, and portions of these diaries were during the last few years given to the world. They were packed full of good stories, but as anything in the nature of personal or unkindly gossip was rigidly excluded they never afforded the world the luxury of a susees de seandale.
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