LORD ROSEBERY AND THE " GREAT TRIMMER." [To THE EDITOR
07 TER " Syrcrwroa."] SIB,—Referring to your article in the Spectator of April 4th, is there not a curious parallel to the position and political character of Lord Rosebery in the case of George Savile, Marquess of Halifax, who died in 1695 ? Like Lord Rose- bery, Halifax aspired to be above party, and to be an oracle to whom either party might look for counsel and guidance. He was, moreover, to continue the parallel, more skilful in pulling down than in building up, and it was, we may imagine, with an ill grace that William III. listened to the epigrams of his Lord Privy Seal,—epigrams, like some of Lord Rosebery's speeches, brilliant rather than useful. Halifax, moreover, in office was unfortunate in that he quarrelled with his associates, and what happened in the case of Temple's Coalition Council of 1679 under Charles IL, when the meetings were largely spent in wordy warfare between Halifax and Shaftesbury, may happen again when Lord Rose- bery collects his non-party Ministry,—in itself a curious parallel to Temple's Council of All the Talents. " What was wanted," says Macaulay—and the words might have been written of the " dreamer of the rainbow " to-day—" was not what he had :—wit, amplitude of comprehension, subtlety in drawing distinctions; but what he had not: prompt decision, indefatigable energy, and stubborn resolution." More fertile in controversy than consultation, in arguments than expe- dients, Halifax forgot, as does Lord Rosebery, that the man who sits on a pinnacle observing the faults of both parties will not, when he descends from his lonely elevation, be wel- comed by either. To complete the parallel, Halifax was a wit and an orator ; ee is Lord Rosebery. Halifax wrote, as does Lord Rosebery, with great charm and literary skill. Bril- liance, in fact, is the keynote of each man's character ; but it would seem that the fairies in showering gifts on these two men maliciously omitted that quality which, in politics,
cements the whole,—steadfastness.—I am, Sir, &c., H.
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