25 JULY 1868, Page 2

The Duke of Portland's family has been a long time

in England, but his Grace certainly does write almost as funny a style as if he were still half Dutch. His Grace's agent let his Grace's tenants know the other day that his Grace was disposed to favour the

Conservative cause in North Nottinghamshire, whereon the Not- tingham Journal commented rather severely, regarding the intima-

tion, not unnaturally, as the exercise of a very objectionable species of election influence. To this commentary the Duke of Portland replies in a letter as full of italics as a schoolgirl's confidences to her bosom friend, much more marvellous in composition, and as silly in substance as the silliest schoolgirl could contrive. Take this, for instance, in relation to all three points,—his Grace has been quoting from Mr. Walter that an attack on the Irish Church from mere party motives would be a very wicked thing, and then continues :-

"I entirely concur with this much of Mr. Walter's speech, and would only supplement it with the addition of my own personal conviction. viz., that there is not a single individual in the kingdom thoroughly well acquainted with public affairs, who, Ir A GENTLEMAN, would deny upon his honor ; or, if otherwise, on his oath (unless a fit subject for committal for perjury!) that party motives, and party motives alone, have been the guiding star of the mover of the present onslaught on the Church, and unholy alliance with Demagogues, and Papists whose openly avowed objects are to pull down the best and moat antient institution of the country, and set up Yankeeism in Politics and Voluntaryism and Popishdom in Religion."

Poor Duke if that is his own ducal conviction, and that also his ducal manner of expressing it, there are, at least, heavy personal deductions to be made from the splendour of one great dukedom.