On Monday the political world was startled by the announcement of Mr. Goschen's retirement from the House of Commons. His farewell address to his constituents is, however, couched in such terms as to leave it doubtful whether he intends 40 retire altogether from active political life, That he will accept the peerage to which his long and honourable political career has amply entitled him no one doubts; but whether he will retain the First Lordship of the Admiralty in the almost certain event of Lord Salisbury securing a new lease of power is not so certain. Lord Salisbury has, it is believed, Leen looking forward for some time to honourable retirement; but he recognises that he cannot now be spared, and it is believed that he intends to make as few changes as possible in the personnel of his Government. Oi the 670 members of the Parliament just expired no fewer than 581 are standing again; and among those she are retiring are but few of great distinction, The most notable is Mr. Leonard Courtney, who, like Sir Edward Clarke, hopes to return to Parliament when the question on which he is at issue with his party has receded into the background. Literature loses Sir H. M. Stanley and Mr. Justin McCarthy, but it has the chanco of gaining Mr. Gil Dr. Conan Doyle, who are both standing as Liberal Unionists. Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins, who was coming forward as a Literal, has unfortunately been compelled by ill-health to retire.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.