THE STATESMAN'S NEED
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
Sia,—In A Spectator's Notebook, " Janus " refers to an inter- esting passage in Sir Samuel Hoare's address to Reading Univer- sity, where he records a conversation between Lord Haldane, Lord Morley and the American statesman, Mr. Elihu Root. " They were discussing the chief qualities of public life. ' Elo- quence,' said one ; courage,' said another ; but they finally agreed upon Elihu Root's claim for ' patience.' " (p. 17).
One may compare with this the story recorded by Lord Brougham of the younger Pitt. " One day, when the conversa- tion turned upon the quality most required in a Prime Minister, and one said Eloquence, another Knowledge, and a third Toil, Mr. Pitt said, ' No ; Patience.' " (Stanhope's William Pitt, Vol. iv. 4o7).—Yours faithfully, CHARLES H. COLCHESTER.
Derby House, The Avenue, Colchester.
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