LORD GREY'S POOR RELATIONS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
to—that of' all the candidates at the Finsbury election, Mr. DUN- that, insteadof myself or family, on our retirement from office, carrying away any of COMBE was the " most moderate." Now Mr. DUNCOMBE was the public money, we lease it poorer than wheu we entered on the discharge of its
duties."a
called, and was known to be, "the Durhamite candidate." Be is, What ! have they actually squandered all that they have received since Noverriser 1830, and more? It may be so; and if so, they are the poorer for having had the money ; but that they had it, who will deny? Take Lord PONSONBY for example. How much has he received as Minister at Naples, and Brussels, and Ambassador at Constantinople ? He may have spent it; but surely he received it, and might have been all the richer. If what Lord GREY asserts of his family be, as no Sin—When a French Minister resigns, all the journals, not except- ing those which have been his most determined opponents, unite in singing his praises. Even those who, the day before, spoke of him as a rogue or a dolt, join in the chorus—" We shall never see his like again." French politeness, I suppose. But have not some of our Liberals fallen into the same cheap mode of showing their manners? The Chronicle, which for some time past has been writing up Lord DcatiA3t, and therefore wilting Lord Gam- down, says.—" There can be but one common sentiment of respect and gratitude entertained for a nobleman preeminently distinguished for his pan-lone and disinterested public services Posterity will doubtless guard a noble reputa- tion, which must subsist for ayes," &c. See Very polite this; but is it not far overdone, and therefore absurd ? I think so ; and that Lord GREY Was over-polite to himself; when be spoke as follows. " My Lords, I have been most unjustly attaeked in consequence of my appointing some of my own tinnily and Mations to Own. offices. I can assure your Lordships, that not .ine shilling of the public money is carried away either by myself or fancily, in thus retiring from office. (Loud erivs of " !ker. heir 1") It is per:ectly true that I have appointed many members of my family to situations in the public service; but I can assure your Lordships of this, that in no instance have those situations been sine- cures. 1 it every case, the duties of the offices to which they have been appointed have hem: of the mod laborious and arduous nature. And I ask your Lordships, whether they have not been well qualified for the sit ca; ions to which they have been ehosen ? whether. indeed, most or them are not wrsous whom any Government would have selected for He same offices, though they had not bel•11 ielations of mine? The situa- tions to which they were apptduted subjected them toadditional expense ; and I repeat, • Merniay Chronicle Report.
Previous page
