390 CLARE SEWELL READ 



his political opponents, Mr. Gladstone not excepted, the highest 

 encomiums. But although Norfolk may claim Mr. Read as one 

 of its members, he is looked upon as belonging to the nation at 

 large. At all events, the farmers of England claim him to be their 

 representative and their mouthpiece in Parliament, and they 

 are proud of having one of their class who can so ably advocate 

 their views. 



" The subjects to which Mr. Read has given his especial atten- 

 tion since he has been in Parliament have been those of cattle 

 legislation, local taxation, and tenant right. 



" From Mr. Read's first introduction to Parliament he has 

 ever manifested the greatest attention and devotion to the sub- 

 ject of cattle diseases, and has never for a moment lost sight of 

 its importance. It was owing to his strong feeling in this matter 

 that he was led to retire from the Government, and it was not 

 until that retirement took place that the Government decided 

 to take action ; so that if any improvements should take place, 

 it will be due to the stand taken bv Mr. Read." 



From " The Times" 13th December, 1875. 



"The rumour of Mr. Read's withdrawal was received with 

 universal regret. . . . He appears to be more sorry for the 

 Government than for himself, and his only consolation is that 

 justice is more likely to be done by his retirement than by any- 

 thing he could have done in office. . . . As to the quarrel 

 itself, if quarrel it can be called, Mr. Read is so entirely in the 

 right, and the Government so entirely in the wrong, that there 

 cannot be two honest opinions as to the propriety the mathe- 

 matical accuracy of Mr. Read's conduct. He could not but 

 do what he has done ; and if it be asked why his superiors in 

 the Administration have not been bound by the same inexorable 

 logic, the only answer is that Cabinets have a way of holding 

 themselves above all logic. 



" The case is delightfully simple. . . . There is an Order 

 in Council compelling the most rigorous measures for the 

 detection, isolation, and extinction of pleuro -pneumonia in cattle. 

 But when we look in another direction we find a simple 

 defiance of reason and justice. The Irish farmers will not have 

 their animals inspected or condemned or slaughtered or inter- 

 fered with, and insist on sending them by thousands, sound or 

 diseased, into all our English markets. . . . The order was 

 never extended to Ireland, and the Government had not the 

 courage to extend it. ... Now, Mr. Read had to represent 

 the Board of Trade in the House of Commons, and also to meet 

 all the tenant farmers in England face to face w r hen called upon, 

 and to maintain a reputation for courage, plain -speaking, and 



