There is a delightful variety about the members of the new Government. M. Combes is a pronounced provincial. Until he suddenly achieved greatness—or rather had greatness thrust up him by his political friends, who wanted a useful figure-fead—by becoming Prime Minster, he was virtually unknown beyond Parliamentary circles. M. Delcassé is facile princeps" in his way, seeing that he has how been Foreign Minister for four years, 'a longer period than any French statesman of modern times has accomplished. MIN. Rouvier, the Finance Minister, is a practical and experienced financier, and fas already got his scheme for the reduetion of the 3} per cent Rentes to 3 per cent adopted by Parliament. The most curious figure is M. Pelletan, the Minister
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.