It will not do to forget the late Ministers before
a week has passed ! The scene in which they formally announced their own retirement, on Monday, was characteristic. The new Ministers can scarcely be said to have entered an appearance, and for their convenience both Houses adjourned till Friday; the last evening before the interval allotted to the labour of forming the new Cabinet belonged to the late Ministers and to the past. In the more sedate atmosphere of the Upper House, Lord Lansdowne closed a political life which he has no doubt prolonged beyond the day when years conferred the right to ease, and prolonged out of re- gard for his ancient companions. His last words terminated his career with fitting dignity, with a becoming claim to be remem- bered for calm and conciliatory bearing in council—a claim which was in itself a modesty. Lord Tohn Russell took leave of the Treasury-bench with an assurance, levelled at his successful rivals and the victor whom he had shaken off as a colleague, that he should still be active in upholding Free-trade, Suffrage-extension, Peace. And so—exit Russell.
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