Certainly many of the Old Whigs are as much devoted
to Turkey as Lord Beaconsfield himself. At Glossop on Saturday Lord George Cavendish broke out into a sharp criticism of Mr. Gladstone and the Bishops who have preached the new crusade, though he himself objected to going to war on behalf of Turkey And at Reigate last week Lord Monson panegyrised the junior Earl,—Lord Beaconsfield,—who, without great family interests to back him, had shown what a man " by his own great virtue and transcendent ability could accomplish." The " transcendent ability" every one will admit, but as for the "great virtue," we should be puzzled to discern it. Was it shown in 1832-4, by starting as a Radical, then turning Tory quite suddenly, and finally taking up the role of a violent Protectionist and personal enemy of Sir Robert Peel's? Or was it shown in 1867, by carrying household suffrage in the boroughs, after denouncing as democratic a £6 franchise ? Or was it shown by making light of the wickedness of the Turks and much of the rebelliousness of the Christians in 1876 ? If the "great virtue " of Mr. Disraeli means, in the old Latin aense, his great valour, we can admit the phrase. If not, it is almost as inapplicable to him as to the late Tom Duncombel or any free-lance of them all in either party.
