MR. GLA.DSTONE.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Your admirable note on thie subject seems to hint, if it does not suggest, that a word of sympathy should go out from the House of Commons to its once great leader and ornament, now nearing his end. We had it from Mrs. Gladstone herself the other day that such sympathy is very cheering to the sufferer, and very gratifying to herself, and there may not be a long time in which it may be conveyed. I am no politician, but only a plain man—a Scotsman, if you will—but I am profoundly touched by the sublime spectacle of the great statesman, the great scholar, slowly and surely, but heroically, dying in the midst of scenes he loves so well. Let the nation, then, through its chosen representatives, record its admiration for the man, the Christian, and the statesman, whose blame- less life must be his greatest consolation in the hour of death. —I am, Sir, &c., R. W. J.
[We do not know whether the precedents of the House of Commons would make it possible to carry out our correspon- dent's suggestion, though we agree that it would otherwise be a most appropriate act. We must remember that Mr. Gladstone would be the last man to favour an innovation in the customs of Parliament. Still, if it is at all consistent with Parliamentary usage the resolution of sympathy ought to be passed.—ED. Spectator.]
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