Mr. W. R. Brodie, of West Savile Road, Edinburgh, is
a Tory graduate of the Edinburgh University, and not quite sure if he can vote for Sir Stafford Nortbcote as Lord Rector. He " doots " if that gentleman " quite adequately represents the Conserva- tive party," and writes to Lord Randolph Churchill to inquire. Lord Randolph's reply is positively delicious. Yes, he says, you may vote for Sir Stafford. Nobody" adequately represents " the Liberal party, and neither Sir Robert Peel nor Lord Beacons- field at any moment of their lives adequately represented the Conservatives. But a Conservative who rejects Sir Stafford Northcote must have an " unduly sensitive political conscience." 4t Sir Stafford Northcote leads the Opposition in the House of Commons ; he has devoted more than a quarter of a century to Parliamentary labours ; in that time has sacrificed all his energies and much of his health to the maintenance and diffusion of sound political doctrine, and among modern public men possesses the unique, the unprecedented qualification of being respected and eulogised as much by his opponents as by his friends." The mingled tone of patronage and loyalty in that letter is quite perfect. The middy pats the captain on the back, and exhorts all .A.B.'s to obey him promptly.
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