The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-24 00:00:00

1110

number of years the Colmies were under Lord
BATHURST, and it would be difficult to say
what special qualities were possessed by that
Nobleman for so arduous a post. Then came
Lord RIPON, a weak though accomplished
peer, who never realised the expectations of
the promising FREDERICK RowNsoN. Next
they were given to Mr. HusK►ssox, who had
many of the special aptitudes required, ex=
cepting moral firmness. They were next
handed to Sir GEORGE MURRAY, an extremely
clever man—rapid, eloquent, and versatile—
but whose military experience did not qualify
him for the regulation of Tariffs and Differen-
tial Duties. Yet there have been worse
appointments than that of Sir GEORGE
MURRAY. _

The Reform Cabinet of 1831 intrusted the
Colonies to Lord RIPON for a second time; but
he proved inefficient, and Earl GREY, desiring
to reinforce his party, judiciously put them
under the commanding character and vigorous
understanding of Mr. STANLEY, now Earl of
DERBY. But the attack on the Church Estab-
lishment broke up the Reform party. Acting
with firm independence, Mr. STANLEY left the
Colonial-office, and the department was given
for a short season by Lord MELBOURNE to Mr.
SPRING RICE. Then, in his short Ministry,
Sir ROBERT PEEL gave it to Lord ABERDEEN,
whose unconciliatory tone was ill calculated to
smooth colonial asperities, and whose diplo-
matic artifices were enough to suggest that
"foreign affairs" (then managed by the Duke
of WELLINGTON) would be more suited for his
peculiar method of letting mischiefs do their
work. Lord MELBOURNE, in his second Cabinet,
handed the Colonies to Lord GLENELG—ex-
cellent at prize poetry, and elegantly second-
rate in Parliament, with some chance of lasting
reputation from his having been the subject of
the terrific invectives of Lord BROUGHAM in
the House of Lords. Lord GLENELG being
driven from office, the Melbourne Whigs
hoped that Lord NORMANBY, of Dublin Castle
distinction, would suit the Colonies ; but mere
showy qualities were as useless in such an
office as an opera company in the backwoods.
Lord NORMANBY had nothing to sparkle over
in the Colonies, and King Stephen bewildered
the light hearted marquis. Then " Lord JOHN "
took a dash at them, and some of his eloquent
hits were made at that time (1840-1) ; for his
energy, though desultory, contrasted favorably
with the benevolent langour of indolent
GLENELG, and the Mantalini air of superfine
Lord NORMANBY. _

It is to the honour of the Conservative
party that it made an effort to introduce great
abilities into a department which had suffered
so severely from its consignment to second-
class statesmanship. Lord DERBY and Mr.
GLADSTONE were admitted, even by their poli-
tical adversaries, to have all the Secretarial
qualities demanded for such a post; and the
masterly way in which Lord DERBY dealt with
Canada contrasts brightly with the wretched
peddling of the Melboarne Whigs. And it is a
singular fact that to the gifted son of our Con-
servative Chief Lord PALMERSTON also looked
for aid in the first instance when wishing to
meet the demand for " the right man in the
`right place." Sir JOHN PAILINGTON also was
not a month in office before it was admitted by
all parties that Lord DERBY had made a capital
selection. Of the character of such appoint-
ments as Earl GREY—tetchy, wayward, and
capricious—and tho Duko of NEWCASTLE—
formaI, solemn, and without a rival in the ap-
preciation of red tape—we need say nothing.
The colonial scandals of their time are too
recent for criticism, and too numerous for ex-
culpation.
We have gone into this retrospect for the
purpose of testing this new appointment. It
IS evident that the Colonies have suffered
as grievously from the incapacity of the
mediocre Ministers as from their internal
difficulties. What could be expected from
giving over fifty dependencies of the Crown to
officials—we cannot call them statesmen—of
the stamp of a Spring Rice, a Gleuelg, a
Goderich (Ripon), a Normanby, or a Duke of
Newcastle ? It is precisely under such men
that business falls in arrear, MI that com-
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