ANEODOTES OF PREMIERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 7 (Supplement)

ANEODOTES OF PREMIERS.

In tUo August aumfcar of tao ‘‘i'ortnigiuiy Rovuw" ill - .Micfiacl has a icr.aablo article, in vaicn xiiß rise and i-scoguitiin ot tl;a oijca Of I’l-ime Mjwater, and gives some interesting anecdotfs oi stat&iir.eu who have filled that position. Of loose connected with church patronage tho mg is iiorJiaps the most piquant. A ucan of .a, Patrick's, Dublin, wrote to the Duke of Wellington: “My dear puke, one word train you will get me tne vacant bishopric/' The reply came: ucar dean, not a single word." The better side of ecclesiastical preferment is shown by Mr Gladstone's letter to the Hon. Mrs Goodharfin 1889: ‘Tt has been my lot to dispose of some 50 preferments in the* church—high preferments, I mean, such as bishoprics and deaneries. Not one ol the men I havo appointed has ever asked 1110 for anything. That is the literal and absolute fact, and X do not know that anything could bo more honourable to the Church of England as a body." Sovereigns sometimes differed from their Prime Ministers, and when the latter were men of strong Will had some aimoulty m getting their u\ru way. The following story illustrates tho point: —“On the 19th January, 1805, Dr.. Manners-button. Bishop of Norwich, was giving a dinner party lo his Windsor deanery when hio butler iniormed him that . a gentleman wished particularly to see Jum imt •would, not give his name. “Well, I can t come now in tho middle of dinner," said the bishop. “Beg pardon, my lord, but tho gentleman is very anxious to see you on important business," and the butler was so urgent that the bishop apologised to his company and went out. The gentleman who would not bo denied proved to bo George 111. "How d'ye do, my lord, said he, “como to tell you that vou re Archbishop of Canterbury—Archbishop of Canterbury. D'ye accept—accept? Eh—eh?" The bishop bowed low in token of acceptance. '“All right," said His Majesty. “You've got a party—see all their hats here. Go back to them. Good night —good night!" Next morning Pitt appeared at Windsor Castle to inform His Majesty that Archbishop Moore had died the day before, and to recommend tho appointment of the Bishop of tymnn, to tho vacant primacy. “Very sorry—very sorry, indeed, Pitt," said the King, “but I offered it to tho Bishop of Norwich last night, and he accepted. Can't break my word." Pitt was very angry indeed; but the deed was done ae the King meant it should be.