116
NOTES AND QUERIES. m s. x. AUG. s,
GLADSTONE ON THE OFFICE OF CHANCELLOR
OF THE EXCHEQUER (11 S. ix. 488; x. 95).
In The Observer of 19 July is a letter from
Mr. H. V. Beckley which refers to a story
told by Lord John Hay, in The Observer of
12 July, " of the drawer in Lord Palmerston's
study packed with Gladstone's resignations."
The writer then quotes Mr. Arthur Dasent
(reference not given) as writing that
" Pahnerston once told Delane that he had set the library chimney on fire at Broadlands in the process of burning Gladstone's resignations."
The above corroborates to some extent the idea expressed in the saying attributed to Gladstone by The Christian Science Monitor of Boston, Mass.
It may be that such a saying has been rightly or wrongly attributed to more than one such eager and peremptory statesman.
Here is a parallel taken from ' John Bull, Junior,' by Max O'Bell, London, no date, p. 26 :
"21th May, 1873. For many months past, M. Thicrs has carried the Government [sic] with his resignation already signed in his frockcoat pocket. Gentlemen,' he has been wont to say in the Houses of Parliament, ' such is my policy. If you do not approve it, you know that I do not cling to power ; my resignation is here in my pocket, and I am quite ready to lay it on the table if you refuse me a vote of confidence.'
" I always thought that he would use this weapon once too often.
" A letter, just received from Paris, brings me the news of his overthrow and the proclamation of Marshal MacMahon as President of the Re- public."
At Max O'Rell's date above Gladstone was Prime Minister, and soon afterwards Chan- cellor of the Exchequer for the third time.
It may be that Thiers was a plagiary of Gladstone. Very possibly neither of them ever said anything of the sort, whatever they did. ROBERT PIERPOINT.
THE VOYAGE OF THE PROVIDENCE (11 S. ix. 489 ; x. 17). MR. A. COLLINGWOOD LEE has misread my query. I asked for par- ticulars of Bligh's second voyage in search of breadfruit plants, and not the first, which resulted in the " mutiny of the Bounty." I have now a further question to ask.
Among those set adrift in the launch with Bligh appears " Robert Tinkler, a boy." Sir Cyprian Bridge conjectures that he may have been entered on the Bounty's books as one fit to take the place of midship- man, should a vacancy occur. Peter Hey- wood on his trial (' Minutes of Taint Martial ') regrets Tinkler's absence, because
he might have given evidence in his favour.
In turning over James's ' Naval History r
I have just lighted on the name of Robert
Tinkler, who was first lieutenant of the
Isis at Copenhagen in 1801. Can this be
identical with the boy of 1789 ; and, if so r
what further service had he ? Perhaps-
SIR J. K. LAUGHTON can throw light on the
matter. E. L. H. TEW.
Upham Rectory, Hants.
THE DEDICATION OF ROSTAND'S ' CY- RANO ' (11 S. ix. 318, 4C8). Voulez-vous per- mettre a un Franfais de vous donner son opinion au sujet de la traduction de la dedicace de ' Cyrano ' ? " L'ame de Cy- rano a passeen toi, Coquelin," ne signifie pas, comme 1'indique le traducteur cite par vous, que Fame de Cyrano est entree dans Tame de Coquelin et s'est enquelque sorte substitute a elle, mais que Coquelin a tenement bien etudie et compris Fame de Cyrano qu'elle a passe en lui et lui a permis de donner Fillusion complete du personnage.
II est incontestable que le temperament personnel de Coquelin lui a rendu plus facile Fadmirable creation du type de Cyrano, mais, d'une fa9on generale, c'est Fart du comedien de si bien representer son personnage que le spectateur doit se croire en presence de 1' original. " C'est en quoi vous faites mieux voir que vous etes une excellente comedienne de bien repre- senter un personnage si contraire a votre- humeur," a dit Moliere. Et ceci est decisif en montrant bien que Fame du person- nage n'a pu entrer dans 1 'ame de cette comedienne qni etait d'une humeur con- traire, mais elle a pu passer en elle et diriger tous ses gestes pendant la repre- sentation.
Ne faisons done pas dire a Rostand plus qu'il n'a dit ; il a donne la note jiuste qu'il ne faut pas exagerer. C' etait un des grands, principes de Coquelin que Fartiste devait, pour produire tout son effet et porter a son maximum Femotioii du public, ne pas etre emu lui-meme. HENRI MORY.
Boulogne-sur- M er.
LIBERALISM : BIBLIOGRAPHY WANTED ( 1 1 S. x. 67). The following book will probably supply the information sought : " Why I am a Liberal : Definitions. . . .by the Best Minds. London, Cassell, 1886," cr. 8vo. A list of other matter on the subject could be obtained from the Librarian of the National Liberal Club, Whitehall Place, London, S.W. WILLIAM JAG CARD.
Rose Bank, Stratford-on-Avon.
