In Frome, also, Conservatism has been exalting its horn. The
Marquis of Bath and Mr. Sclater-Booth both made speeches there on Thursday, the general drift of which it is almost as easy to imagine as to describe. Of course the Conserva- tives were told that the Liberal party were quite as tired of Mr. Gladstone's Government as the Conservatives themselves ; and (in effect) that Conservatives ought not to look for a fruitful session, but for a barren session, and should be delighted that they had had one,—which they certainly had,—but the most novel remark of the Marquis of Bath was that Sir William Harcourt- is very soon to supplant Mr. Gladstone ! The Marquis tried to deny that there was any discord of importance in the Cabinet, but he gave a very distinct hint that it is Lord Salisbury, and not Mr. Disraeli, in whom he puts his faith. Mr. Sclater- Booth made a financial speech, in which he stated that the Estimates of next year would be drawn up on strictly Conserva- tive principles, but that it had been impossible to draw them up on those principles in the short time at their disposal during the past Session. Does that mean that Mr. Ward Hunt is to ask a great sum wherewith to renovate the Navy, after all ? It seems hardly likely, after the very severe snubs which he encountered from his own leaders last Session.
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