The rumour, which early in the week seemed ahnost authentic,
that Lord Mayo's recall had been decided upon, and that Lord Salisbury had placed his services at the disposal of the Government for the Governor-Generalship of India after Sir John Lawrence's return a year hence, is, at least in part, untrue. Lord Salisbury says that as far as his share in the rumour is concerned it is "without a shadow of foundation," and was due, no doubt, to the visit of the Prime Minister and two Cabinet Ministers to Hatfield immediately after the formation of the new Government. But there may have been other objects for such a visit besides the attempt to persuade Lord Salisbury to go out to India. No man could have been in a better position than the Marquis to form a sound judgment on Lord Mayo's capacity for the responsible duties entrusted to him. And unless the Administration have very special reasons for believing that he is really the best available man for a post on which the safety of thousands and the happiness of millions depends at a most critical juncture,—which we cannot well conceive,—we sincerely trust that he may be recalled, not merely because it will look strong,"—the ground on which Mr. Kinglake's dragoman in
Eothen advised him to kill the Arab guide who had misled him— but because it is strong in any government to refuse to be fettered by any administrative act of its predecessors which it cannot honestly accept.
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