The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-19 00:00:00

MINISTERIAL DIFFICULTIES.

POLITICAL MOVEMENTS.

The Earl of Aberdeen, the Duke of Newcastle, the
Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the
members of the cabinet, who met at Sir James Graham's
official residence at the Admiralty oa Friday night, did not
separate until two o'clock a.m. on Saturday morning.
'Use Right Ron. Sir James Graham bad an audience of
the Earl of Aberdeen early on Saturday forenoon at Argyle-
house. _ _ _ _ _ .

The Earl of Aberdeen, soon after his arrival at his official
residence in Downing-street,receivedLord PAISMITII,.with

whom the noble earl remained closeted upwards of an hour.
The cabinet ministers met in council at one o'clock, Lord
John Russell having bad an interview of the Earl of Aber-
deen prior to the assembling of the cabinet.
The Earl of Clarendon, Bir William Moleswortb, Sir
Charles Wood, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the
Duke of N•wcutle, were punctual in their attendance, the
Lord Chancellor joining his colleagues from the Court of
Chancery.
Earl Granville reached town soon after his colleagues
of lie cabinet had met, from Earl Brute's seat in Wilt-
The Duke of Argyle arrived at Stafford House, from the
Marquis and Muchioness of Stafford's seat, at Lilleshalli
Memgebire,at three o'clock,and at once proceeded to Down-
ingt-serest to join in the conference.
The Right Hon. Sidney Herbert had reached London
early in t►e forenoon from Wilton House, near Salisbury,
and after transacting business at his office, attended the
Cabinet Council.
The ministry remained in deliberation until six o'clock.
The Duke of Hemming, the Right Hon. Sir James
Graham, and the Earl of Clarendon, had audiences of the
Earl of Aberdeen yesterday at Argyle House.
The Marquis of Lansdowne bas resigned his seat in the
cabinet, ►ut will afford hie support to the government as
an independent member of the House of PM/.
Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston, and his Excel-
lency Count Walewski (the French ambassador), arrived
in town on Saturday, at half-past three, from 80.
wood, where they bad been partaking of the hospitality of
the noble marquis. Count Walewski has since returned to
remain some days with the distinguished party staying at
that hospitable seat.
The ltight Hon. Sir James Graham I town to-day
on a visit to her Majesty at Osborne, and returns on Wed-
morning.

LORD PALMERSTON'a SUCCESSOIL—A ministerial
journal of this morning says :—" We understand that, upon
Lord Pelmerston's resignation, Lord Aberdeen offered the
liume-Office to Lord John Russell, and we regret to hear
that the Gffer was declined, mainly from the fear that his
acceptance of it might be misconstrued. The office hes now
been offered to Sir George Grey, and awaits his acceptance
or reji c ion."
TIIE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE.—The Times states
that there is no foundation for the report that the Marquis
of Lansdowne has ceased to be a member of the present
government.

LETTERS FOR ARCTIC SHlPS.—llec. 17.—Letters
for officers and seamen serving on board the under-
mentioned ships, will be in time to be forwarded, if
sent to the Admiralty on or before the let of January,
1451 :—Her Majesty's ships Enterprise, Rattlesnake,
and Ploccr.