The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

794

tate and too peremptory, and that they have
not been sufficiently consulted. Those mem-
bers of the Ministry who are in the House of
Commons intimate to Lord AuxinizEst that, if
Lord Psi.strusTos does not return, the Treasury
bench will not last a month after the meeting
of Parliament.
'there arc two parties in the Cabinet ; there
is a panic ; orders are given to the organs do
longer to abuse Lord PaLwastoN: instead of
" firelosind " he is a shining light ; and the
underlings are bid to say that this distin-
guished statesman will give RR independent
support to the Ministry. Negotiations are
opened ; modifications are of ; some " ar-
" rangement" must be made. CWHOLANUS it
obdurate. The Coalition Cabinet is in con-
vulsions. Lord ABERDEEN, who terminated
his connection with Lord Rums:linos almost
with impertinenee, is on his knees, and oilers
carte blanche, and, for aught we know, Loyal
Pat.mxiisToN at this present may again be
Minister of the Crown, anti prepared to in-
troduce, or support, as IL member of the
Coalition Government, a very safe measure of
Parlinmentaiy Helena., entirely at variance
with the pledges of Loral .lons lluaasi.t and
Sir JAMES GRAHAM, with the original scheme
projected by the Cabinet, and with the pro-
fessions of, at least, two thirds of the gentle-
men who sit on the Government side of the
House of Commons.
But is this the way to govern England ? Is
this the natural action of a constitution which
should secure that the predominant opinion of
the country should influence our legislation
and direct our policy ? If' this be our system
of government, what is the use of Parliaments,
and free elections, anti a free press ? Great
functionaries might be recommended by a
Camarillo, and affairs administered by a Coun-
et) of State. The scandal of the hour may be
patched up; to use the delicate language of
the Government, it may be " arranged ;" but
it is in the conditions on which the present
:Cabinet exists that these scandals should be
continually reproduced and repeated, to the
injury of the public service, the damage of
public men, the dishonour of Parliament, and
the peril of the Crown anti country. A eon-
•dition of things not unlike the present once
prevailed in England, and there MAR some
• similarity in the principal actors. Hear it
Ileseribed. They are the words of a master:—
" Whoever heroines a party to an Adminitt
" tration composed of insulated individuals.
without foith plighted, tie, or common prin-
" an Administration constitutionally inn
" potent, because supported by no party in the
" nation ; whoever contributes to destroy the
" connections of men and their trust in one
" another, or in any mat to throw the depen
" dence of public eouneils upon private will
"'anti favour, possibly may have nothing to do
• " with the Earl of Derr. It matters little
" whether he be the friend 0r the enemy of
•" that particular person. lint, let him be who
" or what he will, be abets a faction that is
-" driving hard to the ruin of his country. He
"is supping the 10undation of its liberty.
disturbing the sources of its domestic tran-
" guiltily, weakening its government over its
" dependencies, and degrading it foam all its ion
" portance the itytaem Europe."
This is a voice from beyond the tomb, but
genins is immortal and prophetic ; and, amid
the dangers that distract us, we may, at least.
discover their main source, in pondering over
these words of Mr. IiCHKE.

THE BIRMINGHAM CONFERENCE.
IT is satisfactory to see that the gravest
Ministerial crisis cannot retard domestic im-
provement. While polities sleep philanthropy
is vigilant ; While clouds darken over the
political horizon the meetings of philanthro-
pists prosper, and their projects approach
completeness. Perhaps, however, we do in-
justice to Sir .lotisr PAKiNolos and his coadju-
tors in styling them by that much-abused
Hanle. Philanthropy is so often a fancy—a
fashion—an affectation—the means or pur-
chasing cheap popularity, and indulging mor-
Va sentiments—that w•e hesitate to apply it

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