We mentioned last week the Dowager Lady Westminster's extraordinary letter
to Mr. Denby Seymour, the defeated Liberal candidate for Shaftesbury, in which she reproached him with abetting one of her sons in disobeying his parent by lending bis name to Mr. Danby Seymour's Committee. The Times published on Monday Mr. Danby Seymour's reply, dated August 23, to the Marchioness's letter, under the heading "The Shaftesbury Election Explained." The reply claims to be moderate, and is even servile in tone. It whines about Lady Westminster's " very severe letter " almost as a schoolboy would whine at a tutor's legitimate reprimand, and tries to dispel her anger by a strain of reproachful flattery. After apologising for Lord Richard Grosvenor's Liberal vote, and bearing testimony "to the earnest care and delicacy with which he [Lord Richard Grosvenor, a member of the Government !] endeavoured to fulfil his public duties without giving just offence in his private relations," Mr. Seymour concludes with an eloquent description of the delight it has given him to see the contentment of the labouring class on the Motcombe estate, and " to hear the grateful, respectful tones with which they speak of the lady." In short, Mr. Danby Seymour kissed the rod not merely with resignation, but with an appearance of enthusiasm. He wished, we suppose, to be elected, but his reverence for Lady Westminster must have made even his defeat to him almost a form of bliss.
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