Mr. Gladstone's political speech at Nottingham was so badly reported
in the papers of yesterday week, that we were unable to notice it in our last impression. Indeed, it was hardly re- ported at all till Saturday. It was eloquent enough, but in its review of the Eastern Question chiefly went over old ground ; but the earlier part dealt with the personal attacks on himself, and was very amusing in its playful and cheerful treatment of the astonishing quantity of invective poured upon him in private letters. "I receive all sorts of letters every day the last letter I got was to this effect. The writer of the letter com- plained in this wise. He said, I understand that you reduced the duties on light wines, and that when you did it, you were a partner in the house of Mr. Gilbey.' " "It seems," added Mr. Glad- stone, "that the gentleman who thought fit to propagate this story was a man of high station in the Civil Service ; and I may add, that I give this only as an illustration. All I have to say is, Don't be- lieve them,' when you read statements of this kind about me. I am called on particularly to deny things, and I do not like deny- ing things that are perfectly ridiculous. There would be no end to it. But what I say to my friends Do not ask me for a denial, but turn to the man who made the statement, and ask him for his proof.'" Evidently there must be a great satisfaction,— very much akin to that of swearing—in firing off a violent private attack on a great political leader. Mr. Gladstone should get his private secretary to make a careful collection of such attacks. A single carefully selected assortment of lies believed by the public concerning one well-known man, would be an extremely instruc- tive thing, and might even produce some effect in educating the people into a judicious scepticism concerning that class of fictions.
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