NEWS OF THE WEEK.
R. ADAM, the Liberal Whip, has been asked by Lord Gran-
villa to summon a meeting of the Liberal party, which will probably take place on Thursday, February 4th,—to deliberate on the course to be taken in consequence of Mr. Gladstone's resignation. We trust Mr. Gladstone himself will attend it. No doubt its first step will be to choose Lord Granville as the chief of the party ; but after that the difficulties of the situation will begin. The Nonconformists are breathing fire and slaughter against any leader favourable to denominational education, and are pointing out that as Lord Hartington, Mr. Goschen, Mr. Bright, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Stansfeld all voted last year with Mr. Richard in his attempt to repeal the 25th Clause of the Education Act, and as Mr. Forster alone voted against it, there is an ample verge for choice without choosing Mr. Forster. But may not certain other Liberals point out that while Mr. Forster alone both spoke and voted for Mr. Trevelyan's Bill extending house- hold suffrage to the counties, Mr. Lowe voted against it, and Lord Ilartington and Mr. Goschen walked out of the House? The deliberation will certainly be warm, and perhaps it may end in leaving Lord Granville to decide for himself who would be the leader in the Lower House on whom he could rely for the largest measure of efficient support. We have given our reasons for our own view in another column. No doubt the Nonconformists of the Birmingham League would like to select Mr. Lowe.
