Mr. Disraeli, on his way down to Edinburgh this day
week, did an odd thing at Galashiels station. A score or more of curious Scotchmen were, it seems, there assembled to catch sight of him, if possible, and Mr. Disraeli, on perceiving this diminutive crowd, put his head out of the carriage and asked if he was then at Galashie1s, to which the reply was of course a 'yes' and a cheer. Mr. Disraeli then asked in a loud voice, "Do you wish to be annexed to Haddingtoa Burghs, or to remain in the county ?" to, which, popular opinion, by the mouth of this score or so of curious Scotchmen, replied, "to remain in the county,"—an answer which was a snub to Mr. Disraeli's favourite policy of clearing the. counties of small boroughs,—but softened in the giving by more cheers. That was a curious incident, and rather characteristic of Mr. Disraeli's career,—public friendliness for himself modified by unreserved dislike of his policy. But the oddity of the incident consists in the apparent attitude of a political dictator which Mr. Disraeli assumed in personally consulting the crowd on their wishes. The Times' report of his speech at the ,Edinburgh dinner makes him say,—we believe the report was erroneous,—" I am the last man who would attempt to exaggerate the qualities which my colleagues possess,"—but the reporter's error must surely have been due to the impression made on his mind by this quaint little incident at Galashiels.
