Sir Robert Hamilton has been offered, and has accepted, the
Governorship of Tasmania, with a salary of 25,000 a year. It is one of the best appointments in the gift of the Crown, and the offer of it to Sir Robert Hamilton shows how little the Government desired to punish him for holding a political creed in relation to Ireland the unfortunate publication of which rendered his continuance as Under-Secretary in Dublin a direct encouragement to the hopes of the Home-rulers. His will be a difficult place to supply. What is wanted is an Irishman of wide local knowledge,—a Roman Catholic, in constant com- munication with the more moderate Roman Catholic prelates, would be the best,—of considerable administrative power, great moderation, great shrewdness, and above all, great courage. These are qualities not often united in one man, but in some men they are united. But they, perhaps, would refuse the post.
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