Mr. E. Jenkins, the Member for Dundee, had an odd
little fight. on Monday with Mr. Disraeli. Mr. Jenkins, wishing, we should. fancy, to accentuate the reported divergence of opinion between the Premier and the Foreign Secretary, asked if Lord Derby's reply to the deputation on the 14th inst. was to be taken as an official declaration of the policy of Her Majesty's Govern- ment, and if Mr. Disraeli, would place an official report upon the table. Mr. Disraeli, of course, snubbed Mr. Jenkins, declaring that his question argued a want of acquaintance with Parliamentary and political life unusual in a Member. The state- ment of a Secretary of State to a deputation was, of course, official ; and as to an official report, none was ever given, or could be given, without introducing the practice of reading speeches ?— a slight hit, en passant, at his colleague. The Rouge was in posses- sion of the papers, and any explanation would be furnished during the regular debate. The snub was amusing, but nevertheless Mr. Jenkins had some reason for his question. In Parliamentary countries, it is usual for a Foreign Secretary to explain his policy in Parliament, and not to a fortuitous concourse of gentlemen, who can neither answer nor question him.
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