We record with the deepest regret the death, which occurred
it Davos Platz on Wednesday, of Sir Michael Herbert, the British Ambassador at Washington. It is hard to dwell on the loss which British diplomacy has sustained by his premature removal without lapsing into exaggeration. Sir Michael had all the hereditary personal charm of his family, but his perfect manners were combined with perfect sincerity, and his great physical delicacy never impaired his nerve and fearlessuess,—witness his conduct at the time of the Armenian massacres in Constantinople. His selection to succeed Lord Pauncefote, was a signal recognition of his merit, and how well he endured the exacting ordeal of comparison may be judged from the tribute of Mr. Root, the Secretary of War, at the Pilgrim Society's banquet last May. "Sir Michael Herbert," said Mr. Root, "has taken up the work which Lord Patincefote laid down, and with admirable skill and tact his followed in the footsteps of his lamented predecessor. He has done it with a loyal and manly devotion to the interests of his Own country, the lack of which we should not forgive in him; he has done it with a genuine and hearty liking for that country to which he is accredited, for the presence of which We like him ; and he has done it with the courtesy and the ierinine friendship which replace in modern diplomacy and
"ciiitiieigh all the and subtlety of the diplomatists in thii tiaditiona1 diplomacy of foriner generations, as the loyal representative of Great Britain, as an honest, truthful, simple-minded, direct, fair-dealing man, and as a tree friend to his friends." The Government will find it hard to replace Sir Michael Herbert, who enjoyed the confidence and affection of President Roosevelt and his Cabinet, who regarded America as his second country, and had come, as it was said of him, "to think American." In view of the importance of the post and the splendid services of its last occupants, it is surely time for our Government to place the emoluments of the British Ambassadorship at Washington on a level with those of the highest in the Service. That will at any rate have the effect of not limiting the choice to rich men.
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