New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-20
NOTES FROM LONDON.
POLITICAL. PERSONAL. LITERARY.

of him. aims mt a sensation, his letter IN Mondays
Times must be said to have attained its object. VI
practical result other than this, there Will not
be much, or not much of kind presumably agree
able to its author. The letter is an attempt 10 de-
pose Sir Stafford NorIhcOte from the leadership oil the
Tory party in the House of Commons, to hinder
his ever becoming the leader of the party in the
event Of its reaching power and to establish Lord
Salisbury IN that post. The Times gave Lord Kan
dolph all the support 1t could. His letter was
printed in ITS largest tyne and its most conspicu
ous page. The letter itself Is clever performance
from its authors point of view. 1t accuses Sir
Stafford Northcote of negectiDg his opportunities
leader, OF puslllanimity, cOmbatlyeness at
wrong moments, vacillaton. dread OF responsibility
repression and encouragement OF hard working
followers, collisions with the Government, banker
ings after coalitions ealousies. commonplace and
wanting perception. There 49, cries Lord Randolph.
one on the front Opposite Bench to attract con-
fidence. no one to command obedience no one to
collect or to guide enthusiasm. 1t Is filled by third
rate statesmen just good enough to fill subordinate
offices, while Lord Besconsfield was alive-by
bourgeois placement, honorable Tadpoies hungry
Tapers, Irish lawyers" IL these arnable generall-
ties may be translated in print n, they are in con-
vorsatOn. into particulars, they denote Mr. W. h.
Smith and Sir Richard Cross whom The Times, with
as She bourgeois placeman; Lord George Hamilton
and the Hon. Edward Stanhope as the Tadpoles,
Mr. VIM and Mr.. Thornhill, the Tory whips. as
tue 1apers Mr. Gibson and Mr.. Piunket as the
Irish lawyers All these poor creatures are accord
ing to Lord Randolph, not only incapable, but en-
gagged in intrgues to prevent tho Que Tory capapie
OF ovsrturning and replacing Mr.. Gladstone from
doing his work and reaping the reward OF IL.
Against Lord Salisbury are directed the malig-
nant efforts OF enviOus mediocrty and should
we add against the youthful lieutenant to whom it
Is hoped Lord Salisbury will cor tide the direction
Of affairs in the House of Commons.
This is all spirited enough throughout IN the style
10 which the House Of Commons or the CoDserva-
tive party, before the advent of Lord Randolph
Churchill, was accustomed. The Liberals. not UNI
willing TO their adversaries torn asunder by IN
testlns dissensons cried Bravo Randolph" among
themselves, though IN public they spoke with due
decorum Of the young mans presumption to his
elders. The Conservatives for SIX and-thirty hours
held their peace-The 81. JdmoSs Gazette excepted,
which is commonly thought TO look With favor on
the ambition OF the member for Woodstock. But on
Tuesday evening they answered Lord Randolph
answered him in a way not characteristic OF the
Conservative party. by an explosion Of cheers for
Sir Stafford Northcote. When that much enduring
man rose in his place the House to ask question,
the phalanx of country gentlemen behind MN. Win
whom no has always been favorlte, greeted him
with volley uuon voey of " Hear hear" aud even
some Liberals joined in the demonstration. LORD
Salisbury meantime gave out publicly that he was
no party TO Lord Randolph Churcbllls manifesto.
and disapprovcd of it, and had the highest conf
drnce in sir stafford NortDcote. And the general
verdict OF TIE unbiased spectator Is that Lord
Randolph Churchill in the impatience of aristo-
L. II. l.. sn..a II aud
cot a fall which may keep him quiet for some con-
siderable tmc-say week or two Inc Standard.
which held its breath while the melee was going on,
now belabors the fallen kngh about the head with
vigUr.
This weeks society papers havo performed what
even Mr.. Freeman might perhaps admit to be
useful function. They have told some part or the
trnth about John Brown. aud tho case is ono where
il is desirable that facts should superscdc the
conrtly romancos Of the daily press. The Uord led
on with the tatement that instead OF being popu
lar. John Brown was in reality envied and feared
aud hated. never heard anything else affirmed OF
him privately. and yesterday person sure to
know said, in answer to II question whether Brown
wa, not disliked by people about the court: Dis
liked he was loathod.o Mr.. Lnbouchere observes
with his usual painness of speech that the notices OF
Brown which have appeared in the daily papers arc
for the most part simply farrago of nOnsense-Ono
Of Carlyle's fayorite expressions Tho Importance
of Tn, man, however, was beyond dispute Says
Truth:
ain the Queens household John Browns word
WAS law and from sir John COwcll down TO the
houSemaids it was the primary object oil every
official or servant to stand well with hun, or, ut
least to keep clear of offending him. For any one
that fell under his displ,asure was sure to come to
grief: if n servant his promotion stopped and
| Al off al IN
thing that be did was wrong Inc manner
| i'm which he spoke TO the ladies and gentlemen
OF the court was frequently most offensive but was
hopeless for anyone To resent his freedom.
Among other interesting statements IN the same Pc
riodica is one to the effect that Lord Beaconstcd al
waysshook hands with this faithful and powerful re-
taincr and addres sed him rs Z" my good friend. IN
yariaDly treating him nth oriental courtesy long
anecdotal photograph in tho same paper will be
found good reading. But neither here nor else
where is thsre yet any full and sufficient account
of the origin of the extraordinary influence which
John Brown beyond doubt obtained and to his
death continued to exercise over the Queen. For
the present it IL perhaps enough that tho John
Brown myth, rapidly assuming in the daily press
the most enormous proportions should he disspated.
IL was perhaps inevitable that fresh attacks on
Sir Froude should freak ont upon the publication
OF Mrs Carye's letters. Mr. Froude says one
peculiarly reckless writer, has done his frieLd
harm In tho sight of somo without dschnrgng any
necessary duty, and has como pcriousy near to the
suspicion Of hurryin0 the publication OF these books
in the hope of catching not real literary success
but success of scandal" There could hardly be
more damaging accusation; damaging TO Slr'
Froude If true and less damaging to the author OF IL
If untrue. No excuse" continues the reviewer can
be gwen for the of these volumes, unless IL DO
sn overwccning confidence III the edltOrscwn jung
ment and Mr. Froude Is further described rs u
false though possibly not llmeaning Trend 10
all which the answer is brief and decisive These
BIKE the other volumes Mr.. Froudc has given to the
world about Carlyle were published by him in
obedience to the express wish of Carlyle himself.
Says the preface:
az. c.ut.Io lyJ moi crdar the nublcatiOn of