Sir William Harcourt has shown that since Mr. Plimsoll gave
up his seat at Derby to Sir William, he has exerted him- self with some strenuousness to secure the progress of the beneficent measures on behalf of the seamen of our mercantile navy to which Mr. Plimsoll has devoted all his energies. And Mr. Plimsoll recognises this, but says that Sir William Har- court has virtually been paid for those exertions by Mr. Plimsoll's resignation of his seat in his favour ; and that Mr. Chamberlain is the only Liberal statesman who has exerted himself, "without fee or reward," on behalf of those shipping reforms to which Mr. Plimsoll devotes himself. On the other hand, the Unionist Government, assisted by Mr. Chamberlain, and Sir William Harcourt, who thereby honourably fulfilled the pledges which induced Mr. Plimsoll to retire in his favour, have done all in their power, and have done much, in furthering these reforms. Sir William Harcourt does not seem quite to relish this description of his services as having been duly paid for, and paid for in advance. But he is not able to deny it.
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