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 278 THE CECILS

Northcote and Gladstone are interesting, as marking the first time on record when a measure has been discussed before its introduction by the leaders of both sides. Gladstone was good enough to say that he was much struck with the quickness of Lord Salisbury, and found it a pleasure to deal with so acute a man. At the same time he declared that Lord Salisbury was entirely devoid of respect for tradition, and that he himself was a strong Conservative in comparison. 1 The fact was, no doubt, that here, as always, Lord Salisbury showed that he cared nothing for abstract theories, and was prepared to consider any proposal on its merits without reference to party catchwords, a state of mind naturally unintelligible to his opponent.

1 Morley's Life of Gladstone, II. 378.

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