Excursionists from Manchester and other places in Lancashire have been
visiting Hawarden Castle. Mr. Gladstone did not cut down a tree for them, but he has of course been compelled to talk to them. He took occasion to tell his visitors from Man- chester that they would do well to study the efficiency of the political organisation of Birmingham. Speaking of the Eastern Question, he said he really believed that many members of the Government sincerely desire not to be dragged into giving sup- port to the most abominable Government in the world, but that it was just possible that the right-minded Members of the Govern- ment might be outwitted by some other members who are not quite so right-minded. To another batch of excursionists, who presented him with " a most excellent walking-stick," he said, with reference to the distinction of county and borough franchise, "It is the height of absurdity and injustice to pretend to stand upon the present seclusion." Speaking of the causes of the collapse of his Administration, he said that it became weak because it served the public, who do not much look after their own interests, and irritated classes, who always do. We have elsewhere commented upon these speeches, which are not meant for criticism, and which are, in fact, to be taken as speeches without arguments. It is, per- haps, a pity that Mr. Gladstone has to talk to all corners so much ; but we must blame the curiosity of his countrymen, and not him, who is pressed to be communicative as no other public personage of our time ever was.
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