[-SHIP.] The activity or skill of a statesman; skilful management of public affairs.
1764. Churchill, Candidate, 286. We saw Thee nimbly vault … Into the seat of pow’r, at one bold leap, A perfect Connoisseur in Statemanship.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., ix. II. 417. The whole history of ancient and of modern times records no other such triumph of statesmanship.
1905. Ld. E. Fitzmaurice, Life Ld. Granville, I. xiv. 402. British statesmanship had lost all reliance on the good intentions of the French Emperor being able to withstand the temptation of making a coup.
1906. F. S. Oliver, Alex. Hamilton, III. vi. 240. His idea of good statesmanship was good stewardship.
