wurnine jaw, his exsssively animated eyes, his well-tanned face—reminding the world of his deep love of yachting—his habit of sprawling in a deep easy hair, huge cigar in his month, his. economy of small talk, his contempt-nous dismissal of trifles, his refusal to suffer fools gladly—that all went to make up the complex brilliance which the office affectionately called "FE."
He had the most supreme contempt for attacks made on him in the Press. A Conservative journal, for some reason. or other, pursued him wi at one time. There had been delay in the settle: ment of an issue with which his portfolio was concerned. The paper came out with furious accusations against Lord Birkenhead—he was yachting when Rome was burning, ete, ete. Lord Birkenhead, for the week-end, had ax matter of fact in no way been guilty of delay. He had been—as he usually was—most expeditious and the traps already mentioned had worked well, Ibs office found he had a cast-iron reply. It dutifully, without even consulting him, rushed into print categorically denying the paper' assertions and giving chapter and On his return the cuttings, he made no comment but, while showing gratitude for the loyalty of the he plainly intimated that he lered the hole business was a waste of time and trouble. Yet, fon other occasions, as the corre: pondence files of "The Times" showed, he could be very eager to defend himself—and, often, was not so judicious in the' effort, as will be recalled over the public discussion of his acceptance of the pension of an ex-Lord Chancellor, which, by the way, he subsequently His administration of the India Office is considered by those best! qualified to judge as having been marked by great insight into Indian problems and it left on record the expression of views and the exposition of principles which will yet be of value. He could not however summon to his aid that effusi of manner which the visitor demands and sometimes mistakes for sincerity. This made Indians re-
Sent his occupancy of the place once held by Mz. Edwin Montagu who had the great knack of making every. Tu the Secretary of State was yearning! to hear his views.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.