Sir John Lubbock, who is the model of a moderate
Liberal, made a good speech to his constituents at Maidstone on Wednes- day, condemning the first Fugitive Slave Circular in the strongest language, declaring the second to be still in need of amendment, and pointing out that the strong competition amongst modern nations renders the steady improvement of our education policy a matter of the first necessity. Of Home-rule in Ireland he spoke as of a policy bringing upon both countries more than the evils of absolute separation, and he said that he would greatly prefer to see Ireland altogether independent, than give an occasion for perpetual bickering between the two countries. Of the Suez-Canal policy he spoke without enthusiasm, but with caution and candour. "If the Government had done its beat to help the Khedive in a time of difficulty, and by so assisting a friendly State, to secure our route to India, the English nation would not look too narrowly into the price that had been paid." Sir John Lubbock is sobriety itself.
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