ground might be, or how their battle might be ordered, but believing that if they only kept attacking, the saying of their prophet must be verified. Alas! the same prophet has but too often been at fault before; and, to the misfortune of his followers, another glaring example of his failures has now been given. The frenzied onsets cannot be said to be without result. They have (most fortunately for our foreign relations) greatly strengthened the position of Ministers, and their authors have brought on themselves confusion such as has not overtaken their party for many a year. From the commencement of the session, when they wasted themselves over the Suez Canal shares and the Fugitive Slave Circular, on through the Burials question and the County Franchise, they kept up their obstructive action; but the great arsenal of their fury was expended upon the Royal Titles Bill (now an Act in spite of them), which seems to have inflamed them as a red cloak does a bull. What special offence this harmless measure can have given, I have been unable to this day to understand. The law was only recognising that which custom had already established. A large proportion of her Majesty's subjects believed, before this year 1876 commenced, that she was already Empress of India, and did not seem in the least distressed by the knowledge. Be that as it may, there was some poison in it which wrought the Opposition up to running amuck.

"Some men there are love not a gaping pig;

Some that are mad if they behold a cat; And others, when the bagpipe sings i'

the nose,

are also inconveniently affected;

*

but no cat or gaping pig, not the most diuretic chanter that ever droned, could move an idiosyncrasy so powerfully as the Royal Titles Bill provoked the Radicals. Blindly, madly, they precipitated themselves against the measure, careless of any ground of action or show of consistency; now condemning it as an abomination to the English people, now as so agreeable and seductive that the said people would surfeit themselves with it and break out in flunkeyism. The cause of these insane attacks was, I am afraid, jealous rage at the popularity which Ministers were acquiring; the object of them was defamation. Of course, where animus was so strong, the more illbred of the objectors exposed their coarseness and malignity in a variety of ways, encountering rebuke or retribution.

The credit and strength gained by Ministers in the last session were, as I before hinted, most fortunate for us, as they enabled them to assume a very decided attitude in regard to foreign affairs. I am entirely favourable, my dear Editor, to our exhibiting our fleet near the theatre of war; not because I think its presence likely to embroil us, but because it proves us to be in earnest, and therefore increases tenfold the chance of things being ordered as we desire. The wishes of the Peace Society will be very powerfully seconded by the 38-ton guns. I have been young and now am rather elderly, but I have never lost faith in the maxim of an old soldier who was an authority half a century ago, to the effect that, "when Astræa forgets her sword, her dictates are very little attended to." * But if I approve the despatch of the fleet,

THE session of 1876 closed with the final disappearance from the House of Commons of the celebrated statesman who for a quarter of a century, or even for the space of an entire generation, has been its central figure. Even in those days when the House still numbered in its ranks men who were Ministers whilst Mr Disraeli was still an unsuccessful aspirant to a seat in Parliament, and who, of course, long retained superiority in official rank and experience, the genius and personal achievement of the Conservative leader most excited the public imagination, and aroused the largest measure of personal enthusiasm and of political hatred. While his earlier escapades, and the mode in which, owing to Sir Robert Peel's hostility, he was forced to cut his way to power, repelled political purists, the sustained dignity with which he filled the position so arduously conquered, his public-spirited and patriotic use of power, his tenacity of purpose, undaunted spirit, and imperturbable self-command, have won for him, tardily but thoroughly, the confidence and matured approval of a people more likely to be repelled than attracted by his dazzling achievements. The House of Commons has lost a man who was ever foremost to assert its dignity and privileges; who in a long championship of an unsuccessful party vindicated the influence and just rights of Opposition, secured for the Conservative party considerable influence over the course of legislation, and who uniformly strove to elevate the tone of parliamentary discussion. There has been no other instance in English history, not even in that of the younger Pitt, of a Minister leading the House of Commons at his

very first accession to office; or of a Minister three times and for considerable periods conducting public affairs with success whilst at the head of a minority. In every one of those instances Mr Disraeli quitted office a stronger man than he had entered it; and on the last occasion he secured to the Conservative party the credit of effecting a great national settlement of the Reform question, and laid the foundation of its present power and ascendancy. It was not until he was drawing near to his seventieth year that the general election of 1874 placed him in undisputed power; and although his majority is still unbroken, and his leadership recognised as successful, he has, doubtless, exercised a wise discretion for his own fame and for the advantage of his party in retiring whilst his faculties are still vigorous, and before the public notes decline. Lord Macaulay used to say that no man was fit to lead the House of Commons after he was sixty years of age. Mr Disraeli and Lord Palmerston have both shown that even seventy years are no disqualification; but in both cases the duties had often to be delegated. We yield to no one in appreciation of the splendid services which Mr Disraeli has rendered to the Conservative party, to the House of Commons, and to public life; but at length the moment arrives when duty, patriotism, loyalty to a reputation and example which will yet remain a power in political life, warn a man not to linger at a post to which the physical powers are no longer adequate. It cannot escape the most ordinary observer that the time when the House of Commons most requires leading is

from submission. I may add, too, that if I can read the feeling of Great Britain at all as to this matter, it is one of unalloyed thankfulness that Mr Gladstone's feeble hand was not on the tiller of the state when the unhappy difficulty presented itself in the East!

The compliment which Europe pays to England, England must pass on to her Ministers who have played their parts with the greatest ability all through this year. And it is not simply their foreign policy, successful as that has been, which deserves commendation. They have been most attentive to domestic affairs. In dealing with the vexed question of Merchant Shipping they have shown equal patience, sagacity, and decision; and their educational measure, so factiously obstructed in its passage, has eminently satisfied the country. Lord Sandon, by his good temper, acumen, and firmness, evinced in the conduct of this important bill through the Commons, has greatly added to his reputation. I observe that the behaviour of the Opposition in regard to this bill was characterised by the same kind of rabies which distinguished their assaults on the Royal Titles. For the sake of Parliament we must regret these unseemly exhibitions; but, from a party point of view, they are advantageous. The annoyance caused to Ministers is soon over and forgotten in victory; while the censure of public opinion cleaves to, and must greatly weaken, their opponents. It is pretty clearly seen that these outbreaks indicate minds which have never learned to conceal their chagrin, and which suppose that when they are ill at ease, every one must suffer with them coûte que coûte.

The late Ministry were brought in with tremendous élan which they had excited with their tongues. Before they had been long in office

the froth began to subside, and the people found out that talking and acting are very different things. The credit of the Government and its majorities decreased together until it fell; and, we may truly say, great was the fall of it. The present Ministry came in with a working majority, unpledged and without furor. They have been gaining strength ever since they took office. Their good influence is felt and acknowledged at home and abroad. In the former Ministry there was immense pretension and little perfor mance; in the second there was no boasting, a mild beginning, and a career of progressive success. 'Maga' and others who helped to put down the incapables and to seat Conservatives in power, may well glory in what they have done. They have secured something more than a party triumph: they have benefited and satisfied the country. But I must have done with my reflections, and let you know whither I have betaken myself.

I have accomplished a good many journeys in my time, but I never travelled through more beautiful scenery than that which presents itself on the carriage-way from Salzburg to Berchtesgaden. My acquaintance with it was made on a fine summer evening-an occasion which I recommend to all who can choose their time. Three hours suffice for the drive, but after you have embarked you cease to note the time. Though the day may have been hot and sultry, a sense of refreshing is felt almost before the streets are quite left behind, so rich and green are the meadows through which the road winds, and so cool fall the shadows of the rocks and slopes. All grows so calm and peaceful as the hum of life dies away, and all before you is so beautiful and soft that you may fancy yourself bound for some happy valley of a poet's song whence care

is shut out, and where there is joy for ever. Already are apparent through breaks in the foliage wooded precipices glowing with the warm hues of summer, and here and there a solitary peak which, but for the superior claims of illustrious neighbours, might be received as mountains. The great Alpine summits are seen only at intervals, and might be white clouds bounding the view, so smoothly are they blended into a mass, and so faint an idea do they give as yet of the grisly giants that rise, rugged and sundered, thousands of feet into the sky, and have so towered for countless ages -the everlasting hills! The ridges and precipices that overlook the road are great blocks of marble, and the many-coloured scratches on their faces are the work of the quarrymen or the wounds caused by the winter's avalanches. What a soft, dark green is on the woods about their bases, and what abodes of quiet seem the villages that nestle in the indents of these woods! Anon the rocks and pinnacles become higher, and the road is in a narrow valley across which are flung deep shadows which end in an irregular outline against the opposite side; and above the outline of the shadows strike the sun's rays in full glory, crowning the great boundary wall with colours in endless variety. My road is still through flowery meadows and generally beside a blue rivulet whose waters were snow not many hours ago. There are spreading oaks and other rich broad-leaved trees, besides the pines which, however, begin to predominate, except around the villages. Before me floats a warm haze which seems always to be veiling the gate of fairyland. But there are at length occasional glimpses of a far extending valley crossed by the bases of hills that now stand out confessed members

of the Alpine family, and leading up to peaks and ridges diminished by distance but attesting their eminence by the white streaks and pinnacles-wilds that have been white since the first snow fell on them. And all along that vista, the sunshine, striking in between the mountains, diversified the scene with light and shade and colour, and in the distance played upon the snows with gorgeous hues which dissolved and were illumined fitfully above the mass of blue that darkened the bases of the farthest hills.

Suddenly occurred an incident which slightly interrupted the enjoyment of the views. My coachman, who had been hitherto conducting himself in English fashion and taking the left of the few vehicles that we met, varied his practice, and charged fiercely to the right of an approaching carriage, rousing my instinct with apprehension of a collision. None, however, took place; and I was enlightened as to the coachman's proceedings when the driver of the other vehicle called out that the waggon with my baggage was stopped at the customhouse. For we were now no longer in Austria, but had passed the frontier into Bavaria, where the laws of the road prescribe the right hand instead of the left. A few yards further on I found the baggage waiting, and I dived into my pockets for keys which were likely to be wanted; first, however, uncovering to the grim gentleman in the cocked-hat, who stood eyeing my trunks very much, I thought, as a wolf may eye a lamb before they get within embracing distance. My physiognomical talent was, however, at fault in this instance, or else my salutation had produced a softening effect; for the dread functionary came and placed his hands upon the side of the carriage, there

were

by preventing my obvious intention of alighting, and with confidential solemnity invited me to confess the fact if I was bringing tobacco into the Fatherland. It struck me that the question was much as if one at the gates of Newcastle were asked whether his portmanteau and dressing - case stuffed with coal; but I replied very distinctly that I possessed none of the noxious weed-had not even a cigar-case in my pocket. Was I then transporting tea? Certainly not. There was a square deal box in the waggon, the appearance of which the Herr Inspector did not quite admire. Did it contain merchandise? Nothing of the kind. It was full of booksmy private property: books of reference and instruction (there were several numbers of Maga' among them) which I could not comfortably travel without: the box was not nailed; I would have the honour of opening it. By no means; the Herr Traveller's word could be relied on there would be no necessity for farther detention. The cocked-hat came off: ditto my wide-awake the whips cracked: the carriage got in motion: I looked behind and saw the waggon past the barrier, and then threw my shoulders back, and abandoned myself once more to the enjoyment of the prospect.

And I wish I could describe for your entertainment, my dear Editor, what then so much delighted me; but it would exceed the power of a readier pen than mine to record how his first view of Berchtesgaden impresses a traveller on a summer evening. The little town stands in the same valley which had revealed itself partially by fits and starts in the latter part of my journey. A considerate hill has pushed out a spur from its base, with a convenient plateau on which the buildings

have clustered around what was once a monastery of some celebrity, and so grown into a stadt. Thus, though Berchtesgaden must be considered as lying in the valley, yet it is sufficiently raised above the valley's general run to be in itself a very picturesque object, and to command, up and down, an extensive view; moreover, it stands a little to one side of the water-line, so that it does not obstruct the view of the vale. What it does obstruct is the sight of the lower storeys of the Watzmann, which sight one can afford to forego, as his mighty peaks-two of them, like hornstower far above into the clouds. And it is but a small fraction of him that the town can eclipse, I assure you; for he stands ten thousand feet or so without boots: rather a snowy mass in winter-time, I should think, but just now a wellfavoured giant, streaked and spotted with white. Very near him, but not in view from the road as it skirts the valley's foot, stands the Hoch-Stein, another Alpine prince, who has worn for the last few thousand years a fair white headdress.

About eight o'clock in the evening the town was in shade. The sun's face was invisible from the road, but his glory flooded the western sky about the mountain-tops, and shed a light upon the old Watzmann's horns which made them look as if they were dyed pink on one side and jewelled, while three or four summer clouds which sailed about his crests hung there in damask wreaths. All up the prospect enchantment was at work contrasting and dissolving bright hues and richest shades. Here and there a high mountain scarp, directly opposite to the sunset, glowed like hot metal, contrasting grandly with the blue below and the greens of the less precipitous heights. But