The age-herald., 1901-03-31

London, March 4--Rumor of the pend- ing retirement of Lord Salisbury is just now revived. There is nothing new in this, and perhaps nothing important ex- eept that time Is creeping on and this the latest reerudescence of the assertion is necessarily nearer accuracy than any other. His relinguishing the seals of the foreign office was evidence of weariness and growing desire for freedom of the care of office. It was said at the time of the reconstruction of the ministry that he desired forthwith to make an end to his long ministerial life yielding only on the personal entreaty of the queen. Her death removes the bond and re- leases him from the promise given. The specific rumor current today in well in- formed ministerial circles Is that as soon as Lord Salisbury sees the country through the war in South Africa and the trouble in China he will chant his "Nuno Dimittis.'
 Assertion in this direction Is naturally followed by conjecture as to the success sion to the premiership. On that point 
 lain's name inevitably comSes into the discussion. I have the highest personal authority for stating that MT. Chamber lain has no intention of entering for the stakes. He does not cherish the ambi- tion attributed to him in many quarters of being the premier in unionist cab met. If 1t were otherwise he would prob ably, according to his habit. get his own way. But the struggle would be hard one. The Conservatives are fully con scious of the services he has done them l in the past, ad cherish thatn feeling of 1 gratitude that has an eye upon favors 1 to come. But after all he is not one of their set, born and bred in their fold. MT. Arthur Baffour is, and the nephew will naturally step into the uncle's place when 1t becomes vacant.
 l Tn the meanwhile 1t cannot be said that Mir. Balfour's leadership in the House of Commons Is sustained by enthusiastic fol- l lowing. Personally he Is popular, his charming manners beirg irrisistabe But | he has not the patience. assiduity and l business habits that combine to make | successful leader of the House of Com mons. That eminent tradesman. the late l w. H. Smith outshone him in these qual- ities and was consequently much great l er success as leader. Scarcely week passed without incidents happening where Mr. Balfour's inability to deal with vul- gar fractions of fact would be ludicrous If it were not painful. On Tuesday night moving the resolution apportioning a cer- | tain number of Fridays through the ses- l sion for consideration of supply he quite | forgot his probable well-conned lesson, several times turning round to the Whip with mute entreaty to tell him how Fri days had fared in former sessions He does not love the House of Commons with that absorbing affection that mark ed Disraeh, Gladstone, Palmerston and all really great leaders. He is bored by verbosity or the commonplace. and, as there is much of both in the House. his suffering Is prolonged. Complaint Is made that he is too apt to seek the refuge l of his private room. These are small matters in themselves, but they indicate causes of dissatisfaction loudly voiced in the ministerial camp.
 Shortly after reconstruction of the min istry, MT. Ritchie was approached at the home office by the American Minister with demand for the reconsideration of the case of Mrs. Maybrick We in this country have little idea of the strong be- lief in her innocence which exists in the United States, and the unresting agita- tion to bring about her release. They have been personally brought home to me by the circumstance that in recent con- tribution to the Strand Magazine, Prom Behind the Speakers Chair" cited conversation Lord Llandaff had with me relating to his dealing with the case when he was home secretary. The Strand hav- ing a large circulation throughout the A A ( A A 4