New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29

bassadOr to France almost as great posi- anu
what he said Of his nominee yesterday implies tha'
he was satisfied with his work. Yet fear the
truth is that Lord Lytton's removal had pecn
more than once very seriously discussed, IL not
determined
The English Ambassador was liked personally
He was not liked as an ambassador. lie gave
offence to the French sense of decorum by his
Bohemian habits and his neglect Of those con-
ventionalities which are the most precious III
French eyes lie held the Foreign Office in alarm
One of the most accomplished men in that once
was sent over to keep things straight. and did
keep them as straight as circumstances would
allow, but as lord Iytton left India after having
embittcrcd and endangered the relations OF
England with natives and neighbors, so ne
leaves France more jealous and hostile than he
found her. India was his fault, france
is not; but viceroys and ambassadors are COM
monty judged by results lie had gifts OF many
kinds. lie had literature, he mad poetry, neither
of the first order. He had delightful social quail
ties. lie was one of those men whom Arnold used
to call attaching. There was a touch OF the
feminine nature in him, and his capriccs were IN
Vulnerable The French liked him because they
knew he liked them, and for his fame as writer
and the of writer, which the English hardly
understand. Perhaps to his own countrymen bis
utc was more tflan MS DOCKS OF Ills ldthci ""o>''
When all is said, an amable and gifted man,
original selfcentred. free from Philistinism, Tree
from can't free from the commonplace, is gone
Lord Rosebery's monograph on Pitt in Macmil-
lans Twelve English Statesmen" series. edi'ed
by Mr.. John Morley, has been received with
chorus of praises. He is peer. He has been
Foreign Minister, and will be again-Prime Min
lister, too, very probably. How good OF him.
cries the Englishman who respects rank and politl-
cal eminence, to wlitc a book on Pitt. The book
is good enough. to dispense with eulogies con-
ceived in this tone 1t was known before now
that Pitt was to Lord Roeebey kind of hero,
and that his knowledge of Pitts period was
thorough. 1t was known also that this was
his first experiment in literature, at any rate his
first book. People were curious to see what the
orator and Cabinet Minister would make Of it.
They have now discovered that he can write as
well as speak He has q style which, il by no
means fautless is copiOus effective, often pctur-
esque, rich in telling phrases, and at times elo-
Quent
lie deals with the different periods of Pitts
career a man of affairs, acquainted with pol
iticS and political history, able to treat of causes,
to analyze motives. to get at the bottom of things.
Ills estimate of Pitt may be criticised | should
think Mr.. Godwin Smith, for example, might
have something to say about it, SO may his iudg-
ment upon the relative importance of Pitt as a
Fence Minister and War Minister. So, beyond queS-
ton, will his Irish chapter, which Mr.. Gladstone
himself might, were he so disposed. take in hand /:
for Lord Roscbcry has nothing to say of Pitts
blackguardism basencss. lie condemns with
q considerable profusion of adjectives the cor
rupton by which the Act of Union was carried.
bnt he boldly defends Pitt on the very practical
ground that all such legislation was corrupt, and
that if the act were TO be passed, it could not
have been passed by any other means, and that
Pitt must he Judged by the moraities of his own
time not of ours. The only question is, therefore.
Was that wise act? Lord ROsebery considers
that it was but Ole part of policy
which embraced Catholic emancipation, the re-
demption of title, and other things Of moment
which Pitt meant to pass and could not This
is q good example of Lord Rosebery's way Of
handling such subjects. lie puts prejudice and
passion on one side, and will not disfgure the
truth of history nor backen Pitt, even for the
sake of making point in current politics. Alto
gether his book is an excellent book g. W. S. 4.