Mr. Gladstone on Monday " explained " the recent hubbub
at the Admiralty, and the affair having been arranged, of course said as little as he could. Sir Spencer Robinson, the Controller, had resigned, because disqualified by an Order in Council for service at sea ; but had been assured that Government had no intention of lowering either him or his office, and accordingly remained at his post. No communication of Mr. Reed's intention to resign had been made either to himself or to the First Lord, nor did he think any such communication would be made ; nor do we, Sir S. Robinson having consented to remain. Nevertheless, we continue to believe that Mr. Reed's resignation would have followed the Controller's, and that Government in pursuing so placable a course have shown more respect to the good of the Service than to their own dignity.
Previous page
