In accordance with animal custom, the Lord Mayor of London entertained her Majesty's Ministers anda distinguished com pany at the Mansion House on November 9. Occasion was as usual taken by the Prime Minister to make a general statement in respect of niEtters public and political. In alluding to Foreign Affairs, Lord Salisbury, holding, as he; does, the portfolio of that department, spoke with special knowledge and under a due sense of grave responsibility. There was on the sur face, lie said, not much to notice. The Sack ville-West embroglio lie considered belonged rather to the history of electioneering than of diplomacy, and if there was any cause of complaint against the statesmen who rule at Washington, the complaint was purely individual, and did not involve the two nations, particularly since the statesmen responsible have not commended themselves to the approval of the people of the United States, as proved by the Presidential elec tion. Addressing himself to the question of the peace of Europe, the Foreign Secretary expressed his conviction that all those who are charged with the duty of ruling have "an earnest and intense desire to 11 maintain the peace." He trusted that these rulers might continue to occupy that position. "But though they have " every interest, it is not merely that we " trust to their moral characteristics. They " have every interest in shrinking from the " terrible arbitration of a European war. " Why, with the vast forces which are now " created, with the tremendous engines of " destruction which are brought into play, a " European war is a terrible hazard which " must end in the national annihilation of " those who are defeated in the great contest, "if ever such a contest should occur." It is, in his opinion, not surprising that states men should shrink from the prospect, and " the very terror of it is the strongest " and lirmest security for their fidelity to the " ideas and principles of peace." Lord Salisbury, however, is fain to admit that (here is danger lest some "burst "of uninformed feeling" among the masses of the people should overbear the wise counsels of those by whom the reins of government are held. The Crimean war, it may be recollected, was thus brought about, against the convictions of Lord Aberdeen's Ministry. 