Lord Cowper was an honest nonentity who left the country in disgust because he was not backed up by the Government.  Several modern figureheads would be very much surprised at any Government expecting them to do more than ‘understudy Royalty.’  But Cowper thought himself a diplomatist; was fond of authoritatively laying down the law on continental affairs, as though he had the refusal of the Foreign Office in his pocket; and felt he ought to have as much support as Palmerston obtained from the various Cabinets he burdened with European embroglios.

However, Lord Spencer, on being reappointed for a second term, took up the thankless task at an especially black moment.  He was as brave as a lion; and if his red beard gained him the nickname of ‘Rufus,’ the Red Viceroy was as fearless as though his life were absolutely secure, instead of depending wholly on the vigilance of those surrounding him.

We all admired Lord Spencer for his firmness; but this was soon discovered to be due to the fact that he absolutely followed the sage advice of Sir Edward Sullivan, the Lord Chancellor, and after the death of the latter, Lord Spencer’s weakness was quite as remarkable as his previous firmness.

He was seen on one occasion with his hands pressing his back.

Said one man:—­

‘I fear his Excellency has lumbago.’

‘Not at all,’ replied his friend; ‘he is feeling for his backbone.’

The state of Westmeath was really the worst feature of the period of his rule, yet Lord Spenser was in the country all the while, and allowed matters to degenerate with his eyes open.

He rode hard to hounds, in spite of countless threats, and might have had a less uncomfortable time had the head of the Constabulary been as thoroughly capable as his subordinates.

Lord Carnarvon very nearly ruined the Government by his communications with Mr. Parnell.  He meant well, and struck out a patriotic line of his own, which failed because it was made in absolute ignorance of the Irish character.  But he never intended to involve his colleagues, although numbers of people chose to regard him as a Tory Home Ruler.  His previous action in resigning the Secretaryship of the Colonies in Lord Derby’s third administration, owing to a difference of opinion on parliamentary reform, and his subsequent resignation because he disapproved of Lord Beaconsfield’s Eastern action in 1878, showed him to be a man of marked and fearless opinions.  Lord Salisbury ought to have known that he was thrusting a brand into the fire when he sent him to be the official bellows-blower of the Hibernian pot.

Lord Aberdeen will always be remembered as the husband of his wife.  Lady Aberdeen was a more ardent Home Ruler than even her brother, Lord Tweedmouth.  On one occasion Lord Morris was next her at dinner, and she said she supposed the majority of people in Ireland were in favour of Home Rule.

’Indeed, then, with the exception of yourself and the waiters, there’s not one in the room,’ was his answer.