But, thing like certainty. The reign of political charlatanry is, fortunately, never a very long one, and the nation in its sober mood will never allow Lord Derby, in the prime of his manhood, and the full vigour of his intellect, to retire altogether from the work for which he is so admirably fitted. in the meantime, it would be well if those who have been inclined to blame him for his part in the great complications of the last three years, should at least try to get rid of prejudiced and unfounded notions as to what that part has been, and should learn to do credit to the laboriousness, the consistency, and the courage with which, in the severest political storm of our times, Lord Derby performed the heavy task which an unkind fortune had allotted to him. Has [SIR WILLIAM George Granville Venables VERNONHARCOURT is the younger son of the late Rev. William Harcourt of Nuneham Park, Oxford. He was born in 1827, and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Married, first, in 1859, Therèse Lister; second, in 1876, Mrs. Elizabeth Ives, a daughter of Mr. Motley, the historian. sat for the city of Oxford since November 1868. Was Solicitor-General from November 1873 until February 1874. Is Professor of International Law in the University of Cambridge, and author of the 'Letters of Historicus' on International Law.] SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT. A FEW years ago the indefatigable London correspondent of the provincial Press was never weary of telling a story, which, though it was certainly untrue, had the unquestionable merit of being particularly spiteful. The story was to the effect that four friends made a novel wager. They were to dine together on a certain day, and each was to invite to the dinner the most disagreeable man he knew, the wager to be won by the man whose guest was by common admission the most disagreeable person in this strange company. On the |