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48
AUSTRALIAN VIEWS
[Let.

him warmly by the hand. The new member for the city of London, who seconded the address, was heaviness itself, and the tolerant House signified its sense of weariness for some time by a sullen silence, which at length broke into a low whisper; and the feeling of relief was manifest when Mr. Western Wood resumed his seat Instantly rose Mr. Disraeli. The Conservative leader at once plunged into the chief political subject of the Speech—the recent misunderstanding with America; and though the Right Honorable gentleman said nothing, and really had nothing to say, no man could have contrived to say nothing with more adroitness or more show of profundity. With respect to the course pursued by the Government, his office was to speak the approval of his party, and he spoke it well. He believed the wise policy of non-interference had been "sincerely adopted and sincerely practised." Mr. Disraeli then cast about for some reasonable ground for fault-finding, and he hit upon the Morocco loan; but one might better appreciate the tone than the substance of his objections. There was no show of bitterness in what he said, nothing to remind you of the tormentor of the great Peel. With faltering