The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-01 00:00:00

THE lUNIITTZT,

The contradiction which we were able to give in
yesterday's Express of the rumoured resignation of Earl
Banal is repeated to-day by oar morning oontemporaries.
The Timms says the statement came to it with such parti-
cularity of detail as to command assent, but it is glad to
know that we are spared the disadvantages of a provizional

administration. It Would be mere affectation, howe►er, not
to acknowledge that the readiness with which the rumoured
break-up of Lord Russell's administration was received was
due to the intrinsic probability of the statement. The session
has barely bated three weeks, and It cannot be denied that
the ministry has become perceptibly weaker as it went on.
The unfounded statement that the cabinet was about to
perish will not be wholly a matter of regret if it should
prove the occasion of terminating the rivalry within it and
eliciting from the government what is now so urgently
required, an emphatic declaration of policy. Every day
of delay in this respect adds to the embarrassment of sup-
porters and the strength of opponents.
The Daily News accuses the Times of repeatedly pre-
dicting evils of Earl Russell's ministry. The charges that
it was without debating power, that important offices were
vacant, and that the leader of the House of Commons was
untried, having all been falsified, the conclusion seems to
have been come to that if anything was to be done to pre-
vent the strengthening of the government, it most be
done qteckly. Hence yesterday's rumour, launched with
so mach rolemnity—the mode of the discussion
revealing the true motive of the announcement.
The whole ques' ion was discussed without the least refer-
-111109 to the most eminent statesman in the country next to
Earl Russell, namely, Mr. Gladatoas. It is inconceivable
that the conductors of a great journal, knowing how the
samoneeemente of our best newspapers are telegraphed
over the world, should intentionally do anything need-
lessly to shake the confidence of foreign courts in the go-
vernment of England. The correct view of the case,
doubtless, is that the Times has suffered from confidence
misplaced, the effect on which the author of the story calcu-
lated being independent of its final acceptance by the public.
Whenever statements of this kind respecting Earl Russell's
ministry appear in the Times, the public unanimously pea-
ammo° one name, a name synonymous with brilliant but
perverted talents, and a justifiable ambition frustrated by
nooontzollable egotism. This suggestion the Daily News
notices as the one affording the expl►nation hitherto
made of as occarreses which is not creditable to British
josumalises.
Though this rumour is unfounded, the Past fully be-
lieves that when Earl Russell has =Tied reform, if he
does carry it, be will withdraw from active political ifs.
Sir G. Grey, it is no meet, is about to retire, and the whole
race of old whigs appear to claim the privileges of superan-
nuation.

The Herald hopes that the engaging frankness of the
reasons which were given for Earl Rowell's supposed re-
sign►tion will be appreciated by the liberal party. Un-
fortunately hie lordship is not the man to do what by
every role of logic and good taste he ought to do. A ru-
mour, very much better subetantiated than that of hie re-
signation, deduce that at the Othinet Council of Saturday,
held at his lordship's private house, he roomed a reform
bill to which his colleagues curtly refused their amen*. If
his lordship thereupon threatened resignation be had
thought better of the matter on Monday morning, and the
Administration goes on just as harmoniously, and with all
that unity of principle which has been evident in all its
proceedings sines parliament met. The Herald is able also
to •dispel that distressing doubt of the Times that Lord
Derby would not accept office if called upon to do so. If •
partial change did take plate the Herald knows no member
of the present cabinet with • better title to the premier-
ship than the Duke of Somerset, who has shown in some
parts of his career a commendable contempt for uninformed
cOnion and sensational cant.
The Star says there were rumours yesterday that the go-
vernment had resolved upon adopting the el. rating prin-
ciple. Such stories, if well grounded, would bode more
serious danger to the cabinet than a whole flight of such
tales as that of Earl Russell's resignation.
The Advertiser gives a statenent with much confideoce
to the effect that the appointment of Mr. Gosohen has
greatly offended the other members of the government ; that
the Duke of Argyll has only been prevented by royal In-
fluence from reigning on account of the nomination of
. Earl de Grey to the secretaryship of India, and that the