Amongst Conservative members who had not been in office but were not
alone in their belief that they were well fitted for it were Mr. Gibson
Bowles and Mr. George Wyndham--the latter since deservedly provided for.
Moreover, to a corner seat below the gangway returned Mr. James Lowther,
thought good enough in Disraeli's time to be Under-Secretary for the
Colonies and Chief Secretary for Ireland. Since the death of Lord
Beaconsfield kings had arisen in Egypt who knew not "Jemmy," or, at
least, forgot his existence at a time when Ministerial offices were
dispensed. The member for East Thanet, first returned for York in the
summer of 1865, is not only personally popular in the House, but has
high standing as an old Parliamentary hand. If he had liked to turn
rusty, he might have done the Conservative Party at least as much harm
as Mr. Horsman when in the same mood wrought to the party with which, to
the last, he ranked himself. From time to time Mr. Lowther has
vindicated his independence of Ministerial discipline by dividing the
House on the question of the futility of reading, at the commencement of
recurring Sessions, the standing order forbidding peers to interfere
with elections. He has not gone beyond that, and whenever attempt has
been made from the Opposition side to inflict damage on the best of all
Governments, he has ranged himself on the side of Ministers.