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

NVe understand that another Cabinet will he
held on Tuesday next.
The eountry Mtil continues to enjoy the
blessings of a strong Government.

WHETHER Lord LANSDoWNE and Lord PAI.-
MERsToN have resumed their seats in the
Cabinet at the moment we write cannot
positively be declared. All that we know is,
that negotiations with that 010(4 have been
very active during the last few days. The
resignation, or the resumption, of power by
these eminent statesmen has been considered
by our contemporaries merely with a view to
the influence of these incidents on the exist-
ence of the Ministry. We must consider them
in a graver spirit. In these strange and
sudden secessions from responsibility, we
recognise the inevitable and inittrious conse-
quences of a country being governed by a
body of men who, however high their personal
character and ability, entertain discordant
opinions on the most important subjects of
policy. Whether these statesmen absolutely
retire from the Cabinet, or return to it, the
evils of a Coalition Government are no less
obvious. If they return, they will, doubtless,
return upon their own terms. In order to re-
tain place and- power, their obdurate col-
leagues, forming a large nuijority of the
Cabinet, must sacrifice their principles upon
the most important question of the day.
Without principles there cannot long be
parties, and without parties a representative
Government is impossible.
The Administnition of Lord DEBBY Wits
overthrown by a eombination of Whigs,
Tories, Radicals, and even Chartists ; of
Puseyites and Dissenters of supporters of
the French alliance and advocates of Russian
connection. Affairs in general were, however,
at that period so tranquil and so prosperous,
that, notwithstanding the universal elements
of discord in the womb, there was only one
question on which, from particular circum-
stances, it was necessary for the new Ministry
to make a distinct and instant profession of
faith, and that was Parliamentary Reform.
Lord Jolts RONEI.I. had just declared upon
the hustings, and be repeated the declaration
lust January. that he would " consent to sup-
" port no Administration, and belong to no
" Administration, that would not extend the
" flamelike," meaning thereby that extension
of the franchise which he had himself so
recently proposed and failed tAi carry. Sir
JAMES tiRIDAM hail olerlar44l as much, and
has since declared none. The Ministry of
Lord ABERDEEN was formed on the unequivocal
condition that it si hl introduce " a We

measure of Parliamentary Reform." The
sincerity of its members us Mello 111111 their
sagacity its statesmen, were pledged to such a
HMIBIIIII.

After the suspicious delay of a whole year,
Lord JOHN RERRELI. Mal Sir JANIER GRAN ,
with the entire sanction and approval, autl with
the partial assistance, of the l'itseyite MOM-
berm of the Cabinet, have. as it reaches us,
prepared a large measure" of Reform, yet oue
so dexterously framed, that, while it asasullyi
the aristocracy. it must inevitably disgust and
alienate the working classes. It would seem
to have, for its main object, the transference
of the chief depository of power to those towns
where statues of Sir ROUERT PEEL are raised
in grateful memory of low prices. Nothing is
more remarkable with respect to the present
Ministry than their total want of rout in the
country. It is difficult to mention any con-
siderable (less of the community which fa-
vours them. They have, if our information be
correct, prepared a measure which grievously
attacks the political authority of the aristo-
cracy, and entirely denies the riiiihts of labour
to the suffrage, au omission which, according
to Lord 3ous Ressmu., was the great fault of
the first Reform 11111. But %bile the Ministry
would curtail the Lower of the aristocracy, and
entirely oppose the privilege of tlfe masses, it
would hardly seem that they enuld appeal
with much surccss to the sympathies of those
middle classes with which they profess to
have such fine relations of feeling. The middle
classes of England are essentially Protestant.
They shrink with unconquerable distrust from
Puscyite Secretaries of State, from Jesuits in
the guise of financiers, and from impassioned
Omtorians in the garb of Secretaries at War.
Analysed, the assumed residue of the present
Ministry resolves itself into it clique of doc-
trinaires attempting to govern u great country
by Court favour.
Their precious scheme of Parliamentary Re-
form is resisted by Lord PALNiEnsrox. It is
resisted, as we understand, on the broad
ground that it unwisely and unjustly changes
the principal depository of power in our repro-
mentative system, and is altogether opposed to
the free anal aristocratic character of the coun-
try. The objections of Lord Patmancrox are
received by Lord AneaULES coldly and sul-
lenly, without sympathy or concession. Called
upon, by his ',collier office, to take a promi-
nent part in the debates on a bill of Parlia-
mentery Reform, Lord Pal.mmairrom rejects the
responsibility of a measuro which ho does not
approve, mill he tenders his resignation, which
is rCel'lV4'4l witbuUt a remonstrance The
(won of Lord A nefthEEN instantly assails the
late Seeretag of State, and denounces him a'.
a Terv. which Lord ABERDEEN has been all hi.,
life. the mot d 'ordrr given to the Government
officials is to circulate that the secession of
Lord PAimEnstom has 4• greatly ntreugtheut d
" the Government," end that the Cabinet are
" rid of a firebrand." Lord A in:III4IEN returtv,
with the resignation neeepted, radiant from
Osborne. Lord Jons RUSSELL and Sir .TaatEs
GRAHAM hid him be " firm." They will have
no more " firebrands." 'Though Lord Luss-
noWNE holds no office, anal will not attend the
Cabinet. he !nay still be considered a Minister ;
anal, though bad JoHN firssEl,l. cannot take
the Feßls, Sir “EoRoE GIIEV, of course, will.
Time flies on; Sir Or:ono,: GREY won't taketho
seals ; the rest of the Cabinet get alarmed,
think that the triumvirate have bee n precipi•