The Premier did not attend the Lord Mayor's dinner—a most
unusual breach of custom—and all sorts of reasons have been invented to account for his absence. He was ill, he had quarrelled with his colleagues, he was afraid of saying too much, and he had nothing he could conveniently say. All these stories seem false, and we rather suspect that Lord Granville hinted jocularly at the true explanation. With 800 people seated in the vast chamber at Guildhall nobody can be heard unless there is silence, and the guests at the lower end, full of wine and turtle, have not the decorum to be silent. Last year Mr. Gladstone could not be heard at all, and spoke sharply about it ; and this year Lord Granville, who speaks clearly enough, but lacks timbre in his voice, was obliged to say that he envied Miss Edith Wynne, the vocalist, the power of voice which " so easily filled every corner of the hall, and even silenced for a moment the brilliant conversa- tion at the other end." Constituents are not bound to listen to a member if they do not like, but guests specially invited to listen to the principal guests of the evening should display a little more self-control. They can sit silent enough under any stupid curate.
