New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-22
ENGLAND AND The AMEER

INCOME.
lFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
LONDON Oct. 1O.-Of the Cabinet ministers who
gathered in council last Saturday in Downing street.
it NAV be said that they come like shadows ana so
depart. They hurried up to town and hurried away
again or most Of them did. They arrived IN the
morning and went away in the evening. It is re-
corded that they sat in deliberation nearly three
hours and they appear TO have adjourned without
coming to any decision whatever on the question
which tho public had supposed to be most urgent
No newspaper Of course, processes TO publish an ac-
count OF the proceedings But 1t Is some
times possible to guess at what has been
done, or not done, from the inspired
articles which adOrn the columns Of the Ministerial
organs and these of one accord in rebuklng tho
public impatence with respect to Afghanistan.
With that gravity which is inseparable from Eng
lisl humbug we are told that though the Afghan
"diffculty" was undoubtedly talked over, the no
ton that any summary resolution is likely to have
been adopted by her Majesty's Ministers rests upon
nisconception. 1t would seem that the decision"
taken does not vary widely from that kind OF eX-
peefant policy sometimes called waiting upon Prov
idence and sometimes. less TeveTently waiting LOT
something to turn up. 1t is, however, intlmated
that Lord Lytton's acts have been sanctioned;
which, as Lord LyttOn is Lord Beaconsheld's
man Friday, IS not startling piece Of information
1t is not believed to be usual for Cabinets to pass
votes of censure on their chiefs and this Cabinet
is least Of all likely to take liberties with
It's master. But this sanction does not
extend to that project of an immediate invasion OF
Afghanistan, for which at one time Lord Lytton
pleaded in passionate kilograms. The Cabinet are
understood to acquiesce in the military objections
to this did not, at any rate, order general al
vance of the troops in the face of Shere Airs forces,
and of the inability of GUartermasters and COM
70, ind ron and food. DELAY. the
hope that Shere Ali will say he is sorry, and the
spirit of compromise, governed the deliberations
of the ten or eleven wise men Of England. Com
promise was the word, especially with reference TO
the great question whether England or India
should pay. 1t seems to be meant 10 divide the bill
between them. clever burlesque report OF the
council represents Sir Stafford NOrthcote as declin-
ing to express any opinion in regard TO war until no
knew where the money was to come from. Lord
CranbroOk said, emphahcally, from England. Sir
Stafford said in that he was decidedly opposed
10 war; Lord Beaconsfed then interpOsed, and
sin very firm and decided manner told Sir
Stafford he need feel no uneasiness on this
account Sir Stafford said in that case, he was
decidedly in favor of war. He felt that the insult
TO England was one which should be wiped out by
the blood and treasure of India" 1t would be hard
TO put the case more neatly than that nor is it GER
tain that this is the least accurate among the va
rious accounts of the council.
Perhaps the popular excitement has cooled off a
little. If the lme-hghts were not kept turned on
that dreadful figure Of Russia in the background,
there would be a chance for the fever to abate.
Lord LawTence's plea for moderation has GER
tainly had an effect. 1t is reinforced this morning
by strong letters from Earl Grey and Sir Charles
Trevelyan-the latter backing his protest against
war with the authority of his Indian experience.
With their help and some other, there is still
chance of avertng costly war. kilograms from
India are of the most contradictory kind with refer
enoe to movements on both sides. If Shere Ali re-
solves to force the fighting England will have no
choice 1t a remarkable result of the Imperial"
craftsmanship now so much in fashion !
that the Ameer of Afghanstan should have
it in his power to determine in great
measure the policy of England-tO determine it with
reference both to himself and to Russia, both in
india and in Europe. do not venture to say this
myself. 1t Is the leading" organ which says this |
morning that for the course may deem it wise !
20 follow we must wait the guidance of events"
A story is in circulation IN America that Lord !
Beaconsfed gave So 900 to the Princess Alice fund.
Which of bis American admirers invented that
Hs actual contribution was just one-fftleth of the
um reported-$1OO which is, for him. quite as
sberal gift as the hundreds set against other
tanes less known than his in the political world, but
better known in the City. What is SAID in the same
paragraph of Lord BcaconsGelds large fortune and
;be generous use he has always made Of
T. is purely imaginative. He never had
arge fortune. The pecuniaTy embauassments
# his early years are notorious. He has
himself said that it was only his marriage
with the rich widow of Mr. Wyndham Lewis,
in 1889, which enabled him to pursue his political
Iareer This aid tOhis ambition chief source
Of the LOYAL gratitude which he showed throughout
her life to this lady. But her fortune consisted in
liberal jointure, which died with her. and after
her death her husband quilted the well-knOwn
house in GrosvenOr Gate, which he might well
enough have liked to keep, a good house for the
chief of a party. and for a of still unsatstied
social ambtiOns-a thing which it sounds odd to say
of parsonage so distinguished as Mr. Disraeh then
was but which is true nevertheless. lie kept his
place at Hughenden; that was the pedestal on
which he loved and still loves to pose as the fine
old English country gentleman. When out Of office
he had bis pension Minister Of $4,000 year,
pension obtainable only by what is equivalent to
q declaration of poverty Minister who applies
for it must certify that he not only wants it, but
needs it, In Office, he found his $25, 900 salary as
First Lord so far from adequate that the retire
ment of Lord Malmesbury, he made him
self Lord Privy Seal, and drew that sal
ary, too until a few months ago. when
political reasons induced him to surrender
his lucrative plurality Lord Beaconsfelds private
affairs are, Of course, nObOdy's business but his
own but if they are to be discussed they might as
well be discussed accurately As for what is stated
above il has long been known, has been repeatedly
printed and concerns rather his public than his
private life.
In paragraph announcing an American reprint
Of "The Political Adventures Of Lord BeacOns-
6eld," from The Fortn0bty it is said that the
II i. =.