The Press.
London, England, 1858-02-27 00:00:00

THE WEEK.

Liz past week will be memorable in Parliamentary annals for the
downfall of one of the most apparently secure Administrations of the
last few years. The course which we intimated last week as the most
obvious for the late Cabinet to pursue was followed by Lord
PALMERSTON. He tendered his resignation to her Majesty on the day
of his defeat, and her Majesty was graciously pleased to accept the
resignation of the Noble Viscount and his colleagues. In the course
of the same evening the Earl of DEBBY was sent for, and the task of
forming an Administration committed to his hands. That task has
been completed with the happiest success, and the Noble Earl and his
colleagues received the seals of office at a Court of Privy Council held
yesterday.

It is now six years since Lord DERBY held the reins of power, and
the differences between the circumstances of '52 and '5B are strikingly
remarkable. The eventualities of the present crisis are all in favour
of the Conservative party, whereas in 1852 it was otherwise. Six
years since there was an unsettled economical subject associated with
recent heart-burnings, and with disputed principles of action on finan-
cial affairs. The question of the time in that year was one, in point
of fact, upon which there had been a great Conservative schism pre-
viously, but that subject is now entirely at rest, and a new class of
contingencies is before the mind of the English public. In 1852, als,),
many of the chiefs of the- Conservative party were then untried, but
such is not the case now. Six years have rolled by, and select com-
mittees of the House of Commons, the debates of Parliament, and the
opinion of the community have stamped the pre sent chiefs of the
Conservatives with the prestige of high personal success. The
talents of Lord STANLEY, his capacity for dealing with complicated
social questions, and his zeal for progress, have been abundantly
manifested. Mr. WALPOLE has been admitted to have deserved the
high rank in debate anticipated for him by the late Sir R. PEEL on
his first appearance ; Sir JOHN PAHINGTON, Mr. HENLEY, and others
have risen into general favour with the community, while their com-
mand over " the ear of the House " is undisputed even by their political
adversaries. Another serious consideration in balancing '52 against
'5B cannot be overlooked. In '52 the "Durham Letter" of Lord JOHN
RUSSELL had stirred up the wrath of the Roman Catholic population
of Ireland, and had intensely excited their feelings. In '5B a Roman
Catholic Attorney and Solicitor General of Ireland have prosecuted
a priest for doing the same thing which was considered
meritorious in '52. So, also, six years since, there was a large
" Irish Party" banded together against Lord DERBY. It included
"Air. JOHN SADLEIR," Mr. DUFFY, " Mr. EDMUND OTLAHERTY," Mr.
FREDERICK LUCAS, and many others. But no such party now exists. In
Foreign Politics Lord MALMESBCRY was theu untried, and a stupid
" cry" was raised against his Lordship for presuming to go into the
office filled by Lord PALMERSTON. But events showed that Lord
MALMLSBURY made in most honourable terms an advantageous alliance
with France, which Lord PALMERSTON and Lord CLARENDON have done
their worst to compromise. No one will deny that. Mr. WALPOLE is
fully equal to Sir Gsoßos GREY as Secretary for the Home Department.
Mr. WALPOLE represents Cambridge University, and took a front place
in the Equity Bar ; and Sir GEORGE GREY represents Morpeth, a
nomination borough of the Earl of CARLISLE, and has been gradually
sinking in the estimation of the House of Commons, both as a debater
and as an administrator. In the important dephrtrnent of the
Colonies Lord STANLEY is a prodigious improvement on Mr.
LABOUCHERE, who commenced his official life in 1832 as " Lord of the
Admiralty." Did any ono ever hear of Mr. LABOUCHERE doing any
thing brilliant? Lord STANLEY is a nobleman of untiring labour, ex-
traordinary acquirements, and can treat colonial subjects
from the scientific and philosophic point of view ; while his
travels in America, the West Indies, Canada, and elsewhere,
have familiarised him with the topics of colonial discussion.
In '52 Lora DERBY had not the advantage of Lord ELLENBOROUGH'S
commanding abilities. We may remind our readers that Lord ELLEN-
BOROUGH for more than a quarter of a century was the chosen confiden-
tial associate of the Duke of WELLINGTON and Sir R. PEEL; and the
last "great name" reminds us that General PEEL, who has always
been a member of the old Conservative party, and whose personal
honour is beyond the breath of reproach, has joined Lord DERBY'S
Cabinet. Surely in such facts there is great significance; and any
one can observe the great difference between the eventualities of '52
and '5B. That difference is, obviously, in favour of the Conservative
cause.

Sir COLIN CAMPBELL, it appears by the letters from India, still con-
fines himself to settling the Doab and clearing that country of all
remnants of the mutineers before he attempts the conquest of Oude.
For that great undertaking his forces at present appear to be inade-
quate. The rebels, it is known, are collecting in great force at Luck-
now, and if we may accept their late cruel massacre of the few
prisoners in their hands as an indication of their temper, a very severe