New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-25
MIR. GLADSTONE.
WHY THE MIDLOTHIAN VISIT WAS POST
PONED


Mr.. Gladstono's own account of the postpone
ment of bis Midlothian journey givenin the fol-
lowing letter, which will be published to-morro"
"HAwARDEN CASTLE, CHESTER, JAN 8, 1888:
| My DEAR RosEBERY much regret that nave
to confirm by letter the Intimation made 10 yo 1
Yesterday by telegraph that DR.. Clarke VINO had
kindly come from London to visit me, had dlrec.eu
in unequivoca manner the abandonment vi ny
proposed visit to Midlothian In the present nVl.I
The disturbances of sleep which led DIR. Clarke
| to this conclusion is in his view temporary, u.o
only to too great and prolonged Ssr h.t,nence rs
| nearly complete as may be, probably acconp"i'"
with change of place for the moment. .,,,, ,,,,
| ITO pay this visit TO Midlothian, ana 10 give NY
generous constituents tue opportunity OF comparing
fully and in detail my declarations before t,,o 9loo
ton OF 1850 with my conduct since mas ~
been regarded by me as matter OF high 0onsneion .
| was n1ucb concerned TO postpone the iullllimene
| of this duty on account of the autumn sil1.tngs,
and lament still more the present r1S mndmin
ished confidence TO paying my visit at future anu
| hope, not very distant day. -, -. -. .l,o ~ .
| " In the meantime | rely without lear Oh tIo III
diligence which have heretofore so largely expe-
| rienced and remain, ever yours, ,.y
| "The Earl Of Rosebery w. T.. ILADeroNh'
That ought to put an end to the rumors which
| few about London yesterday to the effect tnat MI
| Giadstones Illness of serious nature. One OF
the journals not friendly 70 him went so 1sr as 10
speculate on the probability of HIS retirement from
Office and on what would happen if he did. may
beyond dispute that Mr. Gladstone is attacked by
| no specifc illness whatever He has no disease.
chronic or recent He Is simply and truly, as he de-
scribes himself suffering from overwork and from
sleeplessuess caused by overwork caused also, no
doubt. bv the kind of anxiety which may properly
| be described rs worry. The strain and burden OF
government have at last made themselves felt. The
usual holiday could not be had on account OF the
autumn sittings, and some other matters have since
occurred which added to the stress 1t Is some time
since the symptoms, rather since the sleepless-
ness, which is really the only symptom, began to
| show themselves. In Mr. GadstOne's case insomnia
| is the more grave. because he depends moro than
most men on regularity Of sleep, and in getting as
much as he wants He wants eight hours out oil
every twenty-four. and seldom or never allows him
self less than seven. No matter at what hour he
Qoes home from the House. his hour OF waking Is
eigl hours from the time he goes to bed. This is
one secret Of the strength which has Ia ely seemed
so marvellous,
lie himself began to have doubts about his condi-
tion n week ago. Slceplessness has been torment
ing him for some time. though it was not con-
| stapt. but intermittent The more and more fro
oueut recurrence OF the attacks and the increasing
duration of the insomnia at last forced him TO con-
slider hs position with reference To Midlothian.
Nothing was said publicly however. aud 1t was not
till Sunday that DR.. Andrew Clarke was summoned
from London DR.. Clarke is Mr. GladsoDes usual
medical attendant. and knows his patient thor
ouahly. He decided almost at oncc that
Midlothian must be put of. Perhaps it may be- said
that be gave Dir. Gladstone his choice between
fulfilling his engagements to his constituents ami
resnming al, place and duties in Parliament next
month. With that alternative before him the Prime
Minister could hardly hesitate long. There Is, how
ohyfou reaa N addition
in his letter for the reluctance with which he came
10 decision The four speechcs-and they would
havc been none too many for the task he had IN
hand-were designed with q wider purpose than
that of rendering to his constituents an account OF
his ste stewardship. He meant 20 STATE his case TO
England and to Europe. At least one speech would
have been concerned with foreign afairs. and The
rpyptan business TO mention other. is alta point
where q declaration OF policy by Mr..
Gladstone would have been Of grave import
Postponement Is the word now used. not aban-
| donment of the visit. But Parliament meets III
February and II is certain that the speeches will
not be made before Parliament assemblies and can
not be made while Parliament Is sitting II every
thing goes well the Journey 70 Midlothian may come
off during the Easter Holidays. Neither that nor
any other has been fixed. What Mr.. Gladstone
says IN his letter is enough to prove thathe regards
an interview with the electors Of Midlothian as mn
obligation That is tho Same thing rs saying
it III lie performed, EDd this conviction softens tho
| disappointment which everybody who had hoped 10
present now feels. disappointment in which have
nv full share II there DO any form Of intellectual
pleasure which grows koener as one grows older 1t
that Of listening TO great orator, aud watching an
aud,erce under the enchantInent OF bis eoquenoe.
Mr. Bright speaks but seldom Gambetta shall never
hear again CASTELAR, Is away and What other great
tt ,ar m IN.
stone excepted And Mr. Gladstone IS seventy-three.
| IIe has made many great speeches. none greater.
| nrobabIy than those which IN 1870 shook and
| In 1850 overthrow tho Beaconsheld Government.
AT least two Of his speeches In the House OF Com
mons this last year were declared by men who had
listened to him for more than quarter OF century
70 be equal TO his best, better than his bess
lie IA in the funess of his intellectual powers. while
| his bodily strength Is hardly impaired aud the
| nassion with which his oratory Is Ghame gows
with as much heat ever. HIS sscendancy on the
platform In the House, In the Cabinet and
| throughout the cOuntrv was never moro complete,
| and perhaps never 80 totally unchallenged The
Government is moro powerful to-day than on the
day il was formed, and IL Is moro powerful because
the confidence in Its head Is more general confirmed
"a IL has been by 30 many striking proofs Of sagacty
| and of real governing power. And verify believe
| that il dopends maInly-humanly speaking, as the
phrase is-on Mr.. Gladstone himself whether he
shall or shall not continue for many, many years to
come 10 guide the counses aud direct the power Of
| Great Britain. This present postponement of a
cherished purpose distressing rs 1t is TO him aud to
others, has its bright side hope IL may be taken
| az denotng an acknowledgment Of that need for
prudent reserve Of the strength which heretofore he
has tasked beyond prudent limits.
| The Times. whose ancient animoc.ty to Mr. Glad
stone breaks out OF safe moments. remarks that his
Midlothian enterprise has been happily frustrated"
The accompanying expression of conventional re-
greet for the cause of this happy Illustration scarcely
softens the brutality of the phrase. The joy TINS