The expected meeting of the leading members of the Con-
servative party was held on the 19th inst., at Bridgewater House. Some 500 invitations had been issued, all defeated candidates being included, but only 400 attended, and the pro- ceedings were a little tame. It is even suggested that the audience grew weary with Lord Beaconsfield's speech, which lasted more than an hour, and contained, in all the sketches of it which have appeared, very little beyond exhorta- tions to unity and organisation, advice to watch foreign policy, and confident hopes that the next election would reverse the verdict of the past. Lord Beaconsfield announced definitely that he intended to retain the lead, as was indeed previously indicated in Sir S. Northcote's elaborate compliment to him as leader, and the Conservative journals say " the unanimity was very striking." That is probable, as Lord Beaconsfield, while he chooses to lead, will be obeyed, and no living organism ever strikes against lie own brain ; but the rank and file would, we suspect, have liked a more cheerful cue for their constituents than "Work and wait." They are not all quite so patient as Lord Beaconsfield, to do him justice, has always been, but are apt, like College students, to mistake riotous indiscipline for "go." Lord Carnarvon announced his re-entry into the party ranks, a step which had been anticipated, but which had previously been supposed to presage Lord Beaconsfield's resig- nation of the lead.
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