The Express.
London, England, 1868-03-02 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 2.

THE INTER BEGNU3L

THE space between the dissolution of one
Ministry and the formation of another is like that
realm of chaos which MILTON'S Satan traversed
on his voyage of discovery in search of the earth.
It is full of dim and shapeless figures to which
everyone may give such form as suits his own
fancy. It abounds in mysteries and whispers
admitting of a thousand interpretations. Where
facts are few, guesses are iminenius. An Adminis-
tration was never formed with so little change as
that which was practically completed on Thursday,
and which was formally constituted when Lord
CAIENS and Mr. WA sO Hust kissed hands two
days after at thibonie. The changes which were
made were so inevitable as to be distinctly
foreseen. Yet scandal has been called in to ac-
count for them. Gossip tells us of interviews and
correspondence between very great persons which
affect the purity of patronage. Quidmines are
informed with minute accuracy of the sugges-
tions made by a great magistrate to the head of his
profession its to the necessity of a good appoint-
ment for the administration of justice in almost
its supreme tribunal. Counter-representatimis are
described of a very urgent character, from a great
leader and a great Duke, as to the prior claims of
party in the person of one of its most zealous
adherents. The LORI/ CHANCELLOR, who had
given moat ample proofs of his devotion to
his poi:tie:ll friends, for once, it is said, pre-
ferred the interests of justice to those 4 f
a party, and has paid for his solitary act
of virtue, by the loss of his place. The
woolsack has been withdrawn front the siiretin-
•cumbent person of Lord Cliatmsvoitn, and, if we
may be allowed so low a rat taphor, the sack with-
sic the wool has been presented t o him as the sym-
bol of his forfeited greatness. Such are the details
with which inventive gossip or indignant
gemility has tilled up the outlines of a
catiaplaint issued anonymously from an appa-
rently well-informed quarter. If the public
has talked about these things, it is because Mr.
Disas ELI has given them nothing else to talk about.
We uunld doubtless have had a similar scandal
about poor Mr. WALPOLR'S retirement if Mr.
Watitcl.s had dad any place of honour or emolu-
ment te give up. But that weeping minister, the
Ilsirses TVS of statesmen, has surrendered nothing
except a very bewail and equivocal honour, which
lie cooks lot done,: to keep, and no one one else
could ponibly covet. There are still a good many
upon class left for the invention and cir-
ealation .ef piquant rumours ; and, so far
sa the 'rarity material provided by Mr.
Dis.nstra calves roam for their manufacture,
the time will doubtless be sedulously employed by
the p refessoused that branch of industry. What Mr.
DISISs ELI wanted with th 2 week whiekLord &Amur
demsaded on his behalf on Friday cannot be very
readily conjectosed. In spite of Mr. Girl:errors'.
indulgent admission that there were special cir-
cumstances attending the re-coustructiou of the
present administration which entitled them to the
delay they asked far, it seems as if the PRIME
MINISTER desired time for tine's sake. Instead of
sighing, after antique Roman precedent, to lose a day,
he apparently aspires to lose a month. Parliament
met this year a week later than usual ; and the
business of the session, which in ordinary course
would have begun on the Gth of February,
is now deferred to the sth of March.
Lord Mayo was prepared to state the Irish
policy of the Government on the 25th of last
month. Mr. WARD BENT, U a subordinate
member of the Government, was doubtless pre-
pared to acquiesce in that policy, whatever it might
turn out. The education of Lord CAIRNS cannot
surely take so long as ten days. He is not so dull
a pupil as all that woes to. If he had not been
able to master his briefi; after a much more rapid
fashion, he would still be plodding at the bar, and
Lord CHELMSFORD, an elderly Aomori!, would not
be now weeping in Naxos the perfidious deserter.
The anti-reform speeches of Sir I:1,70H CAIRNS
in the House of Commons in 1866, and
the Reform speeches of Lord CAIRNS in the House
of Lords in 1867 show a pliancy and elasticity of