Lord Rosebery's speech on the Address was in his lightest
vein, and perhaps not in the best possible taste. His jibe that the Duke of Argyll's language about the late Govern- ment "was very strong even for a honeymoon," of course pro- duced a laugh; but it can hardly be said to come under the description conveyed by the refrain of the popular song,- " It was funny, without being vulgar." When Lord Rosebery forgot to be facetious, he can hardly be said to have improved his claim to statesmanship. It will scarcely be believed, but he actually got out that rusty old weathercock, " the pre- dominant partner," and nailed it to the mast once more. Those words were, he archly admitted, " spoken on the spur of the moment ; " " but," said Lord Rosebery, " I also declare that they embodied the result of my deepest and most conscientious convictions." Lord Rosebery went on with an evident remini- scence of Mrs. Micawber,—" I have never withdrawn from them, and I never will withdraw from them, because they re- present the common-sense of the Irish question." These words were followed by yet another explanation of the famous phrase which we confess ourselves utterly unable to follow, but the result on one's mind is the belief that on the Home- rule question Lord Rosebery is still facing north by south. But that, we presume, is just the effect which Lord Rosebery wished to produce.
