THE "HOTEL CECIL."
(To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") ' Stn,—Among popular expressions of questionable taste and paltry humour there is not one to-day which is meant to be more offensive than that which has reference to the members of the Premier's family. To the disappointed and the jealous, and to politicians not taken at their own valuation, the Prime Minister is a Pope with " nephews," and is considered a man to be making feather-beds for his belongings. But will any person who uses the above expression, which has even ap- peared in the dignified columns of the Spectator, suggest which of Lord Salisbury's appointments is a bad one P The statesmen aimed at and regarded as " nephews " in the worst sense of the word are of course the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour 3LP.; the Right Hon. G. W. Balfour, 31.P.; the Right Hon. J. -W. Lowther, 3LP.; the Earl of Selborne ; with power to add to the number the name of Lord Hugh Cecil, M.P., who may be looked upon as a " nephew " without a portfolio. Now, Sir, which of the above statesmen and politicians would the critic of the "Hotel Cecil " dismiss, and whom would he put in their places ? To have a number of very capable "nephews" may be a misfortune, but to utilise their brains and capacity for the benefit of the State can hardly be a
fault.—I am, Sir, &c., R. ST. J. CORSET. Pensions Sa. Caterina, Siena.
When the unfair and ill-mannered accusation of nepotism was originally brought against Lord Salisbury we gave it the answer which our correspondent gives above, and asked whether Lord Salisbury was deliberately to exclude good men from his Administration merely because they happened to be related to him. The talk of the " Hotel Cecil" is all very well as part of the babble of the political auction-room, but it has no serious import.—ED. Spectator.]
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