Sir Stafford Northcote,—who spoke on Tuesday lit Lynn, where he
urged the claims of Lord Salisbury's son, Lord Oran- borne, to the confidence of the electors,—insisted on the four years' delay in bringing forward Reform, as proving the indiffer- ence of the Liberal Government to Reform ; and went on to, renew the charge against Mr. Gladstone, of having misrepre- sented Lord Salisbury, which he had previously urged in the House of Commons. This is a very foolish line to take. Mr. Gladstone explained fully the misunderstanding on which Sir Stafford Northcote lays so much emphasis, and explained it before any charge of misrepresentation had been brought against him. As to the fine distinction between legislating with a rope round his neck, and legislating with a pistol at his head, only a man in search of quarrels would insist on it at all. And, as a rule, it is only politicians whose mind is not fixed on the real issue, who go in search of quarrels.
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