A VOLUMINOUS CORRESPONDENT. 443 



after Lord John Russell has gone to bed, and we 

 are kept at it after all the reporters have gone to 

 bed too. I think it a most scandalous proceeding 

 on the part of Government." 



It will be observed that at the head of nearly 

 all the letters from Lord George to Mr Croker 

 which are included in the ' Croker Papers/ the 

 word " Extract " is printed. This leads me to 

 observe that a more voluminous correspondent 

 than Lord George was probably never known. 

 As I have already mentioned, I have frequently 

 received letters from him on racing subjects which 

 covered seven or eight sheets of note-paper, and 

 some of those sent to Mr Croker must have been 

 still longer. Not less remarkable is the wide 

 range of subjects treated in his letters to the 

 latter, and the fulness and accuracy of the in- 

 formation which he contrived to accumulate. I 

 had long been aware that his Lordship's financial 

 ability was of a very high order, but I was not 

 prepared for the research and knowledge dis- 

 played in his letters and speeches on such sub- 

 jects as the Bank Charter Act. 



I have heard it stated by some of those who 

 were among Lord George's audience that his 

 speeches, though enhanced by no rhetorical arts, 

 commanded as much attention as those of any of 

 the great orators of the day. Even Mr Charles 

 Greville admits that, although Lord George's Irish 



