The Express.
London, England, 1868-12-07 00:00:00

THE CABINET.

Tile appointments to be made to-day will in-
clude the names mentioned in Saturday's Express,
whose precise place in the Government is not yet
fixed. Mr. VILLIERS, Mr. FORSTER, and Mr.
STANSFELD are the text of much inquiry out of
doors ; and Mr. 13RIMIT'S acceptance of office has
whetted a curiosity, already sufficiently keen, as
to which of the representatives of advanced opi-
nion,' will sit with him in the Cabinet. The Times
remarks this morning, "It was said that Mr.
" CHARLY.B VILLIERS would enter the Cabinet as
" Chancellor of the Duchy. The report is not con-
" firmed, but we may hope that it is premature only.
• ` It is scarcely possible that the earliest parliamen-
" tary advocate for the repeal of the Coru Laws, re-
" hinting his liberalism unabated, should not be
•' found in the ministry." The latter half of this
opinion will be cordially endorsed by the general
public. But the Poor-law Board is Mr. VlLLrEns's
natural place, not the Duchy of Lancaster. No
shade of opinion among those anxious for poor-
law reform but will feel disappointed if the author
of the Public Works Act and the Union Charge-
ability Bill does not return to his old place. Much
widely different people as Miss FLORENCE Motu-
INGALE, Archbishop MANNINO, and Sir JAMES
KAY Sfirmiwoarn, each representing a school
of poor-law reform alike earnest and distinct—
would hail Mr. VILLIERS'S renewed presidency with
satisfaction, and would augur from it favourably
for the poor. There are many strong reasons why
what Mr. Dimas= termed, in his life of Lord
Ozoaoz Bizernscx, " the vivid perception and
" terse eloquence of CHARLES VILLIERS," should
be associated with Mr. Baton. in the Cabinet, and
the whole of these point to the Poor-law Board
as their possessor's most fitting place. Lord
GRANVILLE'S preference for the Colonial-office
instead of the less arduous duties pertaining to
the President of the Council, will probably
not be without its effect upon the posi-
tions of Mr. FORSTER and Mr. STANSFELD.
It is after all scarcely to be expected that the
latter would accept the position of Secre-
tary to the Admiralty, now that it is settled
that the First Lord is a member of the
House of Commons. Had the Duke of HouzasEr
gone to the head of Admiralty affairs, and so left
the real parliamentary business of the department
to its Secretary, the post would have been worthier
of Mr. STANSFELD'S powers. But he has laboured
for a Liberal Government before in a subordinate
position and has won his spurs. Whatever posi-
tion be occupies next should at least give him op-
portunity of speaking to the work he has in hand.
Mr. PousTER is eligible for almost any of the posts
still unappropriated ; and will probably have a
seat in the Cabinet. The rumour which gave the
Postmaster-Generalship to Lord DE GREY was to
say the least premature, and as the holder
of that useful office may now be a member
of the House of Commons, it may perhaps
be offered to one of the active debaters of
that assembly. It is generally understood that
the Home-office is to be kept for Mr. Amur
Balm; whose unmerited defeat at Merthyr has
aroused so much sympathy and regret ; and for
whom, as it is said, a seat is ready. That Earl
RUSSELL, after refusing with all expressions, of
good will a scat in the Cabinet without a portfolio
should accept the position assigned to him by a
Sunday contemporary was unlikely; and it may
be fairly hoped that some other post will be found
for Mr. Goscum than President of the Poor-law
Board. All will look with anxious interest for the
names yet to be announced, for upon their selec-
tion and distribution much of the usefulness of
Mr. GLADSTONE'S Government will depend.

Boaouun op WAtutuaac—The Morning Star is
informed that Mr. George Moffatt, late member tor
Southampton, sad w'he w debated at the last election,
bee bees invited by Ihs limb et Wanioat to ()wispy
the oat vacant by the ilia& ige Captain Oakedt, M.P.