30 NOVEMBER 1872, Page 2

Extravagant Departments, if there are any, had better put themselves

in order, for Kincardineshire threatens to elect Sir G. Balfour. Sir George is a near relative of the late Joseph Hume,. promises to tread in his steps, and knows more about departmental expenditures, and especially military expenditures, than any man in the House of Commons. He saved the Indian Treasury in 1868, and was only refused his reward because he would meddle with the home expenditure of the India Office. He is probably the one critic whom, if he were in Parliament, that Office would fear. In general politics he is a consistent Radical, and like all Anglo- Indians, especially liberal upon those matters of tenure which most interest Scotch electors.