7 JUNE 1924, Page 14

MAIDEN PRIME MINISTERS.

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—Soon after the formation of the present Ministry I wrote from abroad to the Spectator, challenging a statement then current that Mr. MacDonald was the first British Prime Minister to attain that position without having previously held Ministerial office. I suggested Bute and Addington as ex- amples to the contrary. Having access now to books of refer- ence, I ask leave, in the interest of accurate record, to revert to the subject. Addington had not been in any Ministry before forming his own, but Bute was Secretary of State for a few months before becoming Prime Minister. The only other " maiden " Prime Minister was the Marquess of Rockingham.—