The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-29 00:00:00

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

The judgment exercised by Lord Derby in re-
commending the Queen to entrust the task of forming a
ministry to Mr. Disraeli is spoken of generally by the
weekly press as sound. The most powerful member of •
cabinet, says the Saturday Review, ought always, if pos-
sible, to be also its bead. Mr. Disraeli's enemies complain
that he has no deep convictions; but there are many
qualities which the House of Commons prefers to anxious
and painful earnestness. The conduct of the Reform Bull
of last year through the house was proved, by many just
criticisms on its morality and policy, to have
been • marvel of dexterous management. Par-
liamentary skill is not the most exalted of
human gifts, but it is extremely useful to a minister.
Mr. Hunt sometimes treated serious questions with ill-
judged levity, and it is not known whether lie has mas-
tered the higher principles of finance. Of the respec-
table peers who belong to the cabinet, the Duke of Rich-
' mond alone possesses even the most elementary qualifies-
tient of a parliamentary leader. Only unforeseen eircum-
I stances can cause • change of ministry in the present year,
I and it is improbable that the government will survive the
first session of the reformed parliament. Independently
lof all special subjects of controversy, the coostituencies
will almost certainly return • liberal majority, and there
will be no difficulty in finding a reason or a pretext for
ejecting the conservative government

The Examiner says the future policy of the Tory party
is inextricable. They don't know whither they are going,
and they don't venture to ask the only man
who does know, for It is a part of his policy
that beforehand they should not he told. They
have been taught at last to remember during the
week what they say on Sunday, of their having long
" left undone what they ought to have done, nod done
what they ought not to have done ;" and when they look
at their master and manager they are forced to exclaim—
"there is no health in us." It way not be a pleasant
plight for a great historical party to find itself in ; but
there is no denying the facts : Kr. Disraeli has made the
party what it is ; and has not the maker a right to do what
he will with his own

The Spectator remarks that one of the curious features
of the reconstruction ministry will be ita concentration of
force In the COIIIIIIOIIB. For the first time for many years,
the Prime Minister, the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary for the
Home Department, the Secretary at War, the First Lord
of the Admiralty, the Secretary for India, the Sec-
retary for 'reined, will all sit in the House of Commons.
In the Lords there will be only the Lord Clianoelkw, the
President of the Board of Trade, the President of the
Council, the Lord Privy Seal, and the Colonial Secretary,
all of these officers of emend-rate political importance, ex-
cept, indeed, in an educational session, that of the Prod.
dent of the Council. And it is • pity that Mr. Disraeli
has not been able to get rid of • little of the " proud
Bath " about the late government, which gave it
neither strength nor ocesideration. The Duke
of Marlborough and the Earl of Malmaibury are
almost to be esteemed negative quantities in estimating
the weight of the new ministry. Mr. Walpole, instead of
retiring altogether, might at taut have succeeded the in-
competent head of the Board of Education, who will do
whatever • silly duke may, to neutralise the impression of
talent which, on the whole. the ministry present*. But,
after all, both the strength and weakness of the ethane-
bailee are concentrated In Mr. Disraeli.

Fonsion-onto, Nov. 16,1867.—The Queen has
been graaionaly pleased to appoint William Francis
degraye, Esq., to be her Majesty'. consul in the Island of
Reumon.—fgatene.

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A Cutworm COINCIDENT%.—A rather curious
coincident, disarm to be rear ..td in connection with the
recent changes in the composition of the Cabinet. General
Gray, who, on Monday last wee the bearer of the queen's
commissios to Mr. Dimseli to form a government, was, at
the drat dissolution after the Reform Bill, the liberal
candidate for the borough of High Wycombe, and bed for
his 1, pa extreme radical principles, the new saw
sorra vs premier. Gener,l Grey, at the lime private
eseestary to his father, the late Bail Grey, was sneesieful
at the poll,—Bircke Adtertiger.