We hear that a Cabinet Council is to be held
on the 17th or 18th of this month—just before the Parliamentary writs are returnable. Is it to settle the meeting of Parliament ? or to unsettle it ? Evidently, Minis- ters depend on the fertile brain of their Chancellor of the Exchequer : he is the Queen Ant of the Downing Street termites. Will he have com- pleted his time by that date ; or is he still awaiting some supplemental inspiration ? In the latter case, he might invoke right royal help ; for Queen Victoria has just been visiting her beloved, experienced, and for- tunate uncle, and among the matters picked up in Belgium, her sugges- tion might contribute valuably towards the things "looming."
We have heard a rumour, but whether originating from good authority or not we are not prepared to say, that Sir John Hope has agreed to va- cate his seat for Mid Lothian, in favour of the rejected of Orkney. How- ever respected and popular Lord Advocate Inghs may be in this quarter, the scene of his professional triumphs, we doubt whether, in such an event, be would be allowed to slip in so quietly as might be convenient. In Mr. Horsman, the nephew of Lord Stair, he would, we suspect, meet an opponent who would prove rather an ugly customer both at the hust- ings and in the polling-booths.—North British Daily Mail.
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