OUR STATESMEN AS ILUMOURISTS.
[To TRH EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR.") SIB,—In the article headed "Our Statesmen as Humouriats," in the Spectator of May 4th, Sir Robert Peel is bracketed with Lord Althorp and Lord Aberdeen as a Prime Minister without humour. That estimate of Sir Robert's qualities must have been formed, I fancy, by one who had never heard him in private life, or in the House of Commons. Of the former it is not necessary to speak ; but no one who had ever seen and heard him in the House, leaning on the box, toying with his glasses, and bantering his opponents, would dream of denying him the gift of humour. Across the gulf of fifty years comes to me now a vivid recollection of his apostrophe to Mr. G. Wood and Mr. C. Wood, who had vehemently denounced his Budget in speeches not remarkable for ease and fluency, as "Sylva3 labomntes in tom." No; whatever defects may be discovered in Sir Robert Peel as a leader, the absence of humour is surely not among them.—I am, Sir, &c, 3 Cambridge Gate, Regent's Park, May 6th. RUTLAND.
[The Duke of Rutland is far better able to speak of Sir Robert Peel than we are; but certainly his published speeches would not give the impression that humour was one of his well-marked Parliamentary qualities —ED. Spectator.]
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