The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-12 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1855.

Ministers seem to have a wholesome dread
of the motion respecting Administrative Re-
form, of which the Earl of ELLENBOROUGH has
given notice for Monday evening. They have
already materially changed their tactics on many
points. They now exhibit some degree of respect
for independent Members. They do not pooh-
pooh matters of vital importance to the country,
or instruct their whipper-out to prevent the for-
mation of a house. Sir ERSKLNE PERRY'S motion
has been discussed ; and Mr. LAYARD, who on
Monday evening was--curtly desired to find an
evening for himself, was on Thursday graciously
offered Monday evening for the purpose. But
this was not all. A strong desire has been mani-
fested to forestall the approaching discussion, by
allowing the first word to the Government, so
that there might be an opportunity of disclosing
the nature of the intended reformawhich are volun-
tarily tendered. Any occasion, however irregular,
would suffice, and that was not wanting. The Hon.
and Gallant Officer the Member for Abingdon
was the Deus ex machind who provided the de-
sired opening, and Lord PALMERSTON, although,
under other circumstances, he would have earnestly
and emphatically protested against such an abuse
of the power of putting Ministers " to the ques-
tion" on motions for adjournment, gladly pounced
on the happy chance, and in an elaborate speech
detailed the measures to be brought forward by
or on behalf of Government.

" The pressure from without" has been thus
far successful. The PALMERSTON Cabinet has
proved that it is constructed of no less "squeezable ,
materials" than any of its predecessors. But
will the country be satisfied with the homoeopa-
thic dose now tendered for its acceptance, and
which, but for the extraordinary demonstra-
tions that have been made, and the power-
ful machinery set in motion, would never
have been heard of ? We think not. English-
men are not easily excited to action, but once
thoroughly aroused they will not be contented
with trivial or illusory concessions. The dis-
franchisement of a rotten borough, whose venality
and corruption had been clearly proved, and be-
stowing the privilege of returning members to the
House of Commons on some of the larger towns,
might have retarded the cause of Parliamentary
Reform for many years". But the contumacious
refusal of any concession in the first instance
filled the cup of indignation to overflowing, and
the result was the large and comprehensive mea-
sure which has justly been styled the modern
Magna Charta. Ministers are again " too late,"
and the plan so ingeniously contrived, through
the instrumentality of Major REED, will prove
totally futile and abortive. The Whigs must bid
higher before they can regain the position from
which they will speedily be kurled, in consequence
of-their manifest nepotism and flagrant sacrifice of
the public interests to the advantage of the family
clique, who have so long contrived to monopolise
all places of honour, power, or emolument in the
country.

Poor innocent Lord PALMERSTON seems utterly
astonished at the notion that he could have been
influenced by any but the purest motives and the
most anxious desire to obtain the services of the
best men in the selection of his colleagues and the
subordinate members of the Ministry. The poor
simple-minded nobleman was actuated by none of
the considerations that have without cause been
imputed to him—" of private partialities (!), of
family connexions (! !), or of regard for rank." (! I !)
Oh, no ! as Mr. Joint DAwxnis might sweetly
remark, "not by no manner of means." His sole
for seems to have been to get " the right men
tohiaxaeownright. places ;" and in that, according
He thinks that the
Judgment, he has entirely succeeded.
composed
of
(w Government, as it stands, is
and baronets men„rho did he not say of lords
mer conduct
their k
are entitled, from their for-
,
CHARLES WOOD and Sir ability (witness Sir
431.• C. LENvis) and their
political acquirements and a
gcaici ,
a the ty,
cc
oo nt
rayn.
the confidence of the Hous BCd
Never, in fact, were complaints so
- groundless or
demands so utterly unreasonable as those recently
put forward. Did he not actually offer the
Presidency of the Board of Trade to Mr.
,L,,,,x0;
It may be that lie might have guessed that R„.
Gentleman would not have accepted the subordi_
nate office under Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY ?
33at he is entitled to credit for the offer, as if he
tßetalaY exhausted the Administrative talent and
ability contained in the Plebeian section of the
House. •
fly the aristocracy are a wonderful
race of beings.
There is a magical charm
in What poor Jack Tars denominate

" a handle to the name," that confers
virtue, wisdom, experience, judgment, and
all other qualifications for high office on the
fortunate possessors. They are " Heaven-born
Ministers," who ought to be more justly appre-
ciated by the " ignoble herd," who should only
be too thankful that such men would condescend
to govern them !
This is ♦irtually the opinion of Lord PAL-
mEnsToN, who certainly sticks boldly by " his
order." It may not be very flattering to the
common people to think that not one of their
number—save only Mr. LAING—VMS competent
for office, all the virtues being monopolised by
persons whose names and titles are recorded in
the Peerage and Baronetage of the United King-
dom.

Turning to the contemplated changes, we cordi-
ally concur with the right hon. gentleman the mem-
ber for Bucks, in thinking that " there is nothing
profoundly original in the consolidation of the
military departments,"—that the noble PREMIER
with all his anxiety, produced " but a meagre
:tnd frigid programme. Lord PALMERSTON It ow
declares that "he never could understand the
principle—the result of ancient arrangements—
upon which the forces of the line were placed
under one military chief, and the artillery and
engineers under another ;" and adds his belief
that " such a regulation does not exist is any
other army in the world." And yet, for forty-
nine years—for so long has the noble lord been
connected with various Administrations—he has
sanctioned this absurd regulation, and now thinks
that the alteration is to be received as a full
answer to the, demands for Administrative Re-
form, a panacea for all the evils that have ob-
tained such painful notoriety. It won't do, how-
ever. The " light cloud" has passed from the
moon, the golden opportunity has been lost. The
country now demands a practical amelioration in
all the public departments, and it will not be
contented with any infinitesimal or illusory
measures. He had, therefore, better set his
house in order with all convenient speed. He is
no longer the man for the people, but must give
place to some one more clear-sighted in discover-
ing plebeian virtues, and more ready to act on his
knowledge.

Most people have their hobbies ; some, of
course, more noticeable than others. We don't
complain of this, indeed are quite content it
should be so, provided such hobbies lse not in
themselves injurious, or are not indulged in in a
manner and at times calculated to make them so.
With this proviso, we are rather disposed to de-
rive genial amusement than to feel indignation
even when a hobby is least mercifully put through
its paces. We have a strong respect for the in-
dividual, and can toleratemuch even of a somewhat
exceptional, we don't mean immoral nature, if it
goes to promote individuality. Men, not machines,
really govern masses, and masses are most for-
midable when composed of self-reliant men.
Like all indulgences, hobbies, as we have al- '
ready intireated, are sometimes injurious, and
more especially when they relate to public affairs,
and are indulged in at critical periods. Hobbies
and hobby-riders of these sorts can hardly be re-
garded with indifference—indeed ought to meet
with marked reprobation. Of course we are about
to refer to Earl GREY, who of all our public men
has e,areed the reputation of being the most
crotchetty. Abstracted from the Colonial-office,
where his memory is cherished with vivacious re-
pugnancy, the ample field there laid open to him
is now hermetically closed, ' and his ingenuity ap-
pears to be taxed to find novel opportunities for
the indulgence of his humour. Being nothing
if not " critical" in the Shaksperian sense, and
perhaps best satisfied when worst employed, his
Lordship's oppugnancy has selected the late nego-
tiations, and the Allied negotiators, for a subject
on which to expend itself. Ho must take Russia
forsooth under his ruffled wing, laud and magnify
her intentions and offers, and found on the record
Jf her perfidy a bill of arraignment against the
Ambassadors she failed to deceive, and a vindica-
tion of the honesty of her intentions.
With all our knowledge of the Earl, we must
' -confess to some surprise on learning his intention
to call upon the House on Monday week to de-
clare that, in their opinion, the proposals made on
the part of Russia were of such a nature as might
have been acceded to by the other Powers con-
cerned. The Conference had been so thoroughly
exploded and deprived of all gravity—bad so
unanimously been pronounced a great farce, in
which Russia played JZREMY DIDDLER with won-
derful nonchalance, impudence, and success, that
an attempt to vindicate the honesty of her inten-
tions seemed beyond the pale of the wildest specu-
lation. It may not redound to the credit of our
political foresight to have been thus surprised—
more especially when his Lordship's recent de-
liverance on Church Rates is taken into considera-
tion ; but so it was, and .we could not but can-
didly confess it. The proposals of Russia on the
Third Point, to which his Lordship doubtless
refers, were twofold. The first were pro-
pounded in the twelfth Conference, and were
to the effect that the straits connecting the Black
Sea with the Mediterranean should be opened to
the ships-of-war of all nations. The second, prc-
pounded at an irregular Conference, after botk
the French and English Ambassadors had taken
their departure from Vienna, were of a diametri-
cally opposite nature—to the effect, in fact, that
the Straits should be closed to the ships-of-war of
all nations 1 As if it were not apparent to the
shallowest understanding that the opening of the
Straits brought no security against a Power that
could capture Constantinople with her fleet, and
effectually close up the straits before any other
Power could practically interfere. Afterwards to
propose the very opposite, only demonstrates that
by either means Russia feels assured the same end
' can be gained. Add to this the impudent pre-
tences of the Russian Ambassador—among others,
' that the Russian navy might be necessary here-
after to protect Turkey against the fleets of
France and England, and the reader has
some idea of the character of the Power with
which the Allies have to deal, and of the
folly involved in the acceptance of either proposi-
tion. Having already adverted to the subject, we
designedly refrain from analysing the proposi-
tions, fully satisfied that the good sense of the
country has pronounced against the Earl already.
That judgment fully warrants us in stigmatising
his intended motion as mischievous and un-
becoming. To thrust transparent fraud before
the eyes of the nation, and pronounce it honesty
is singularly audacious—to adduce it and distort
it in order to make cut a heavy case against men
I who, in this instance, at least, have acted wisely,
i 5 carrying a crotchet beyond all legitimate bounds,
reeveb
la enough to damage any political character. The
appearance o
next
eia the
of
the Earl, we incline to believe,
capacity of Advocate of Austria. If so,
r had his crotchetty Lordship a client in
root©
desperate case. E
and practised skill
with
likely, therefore '
i
attempt it. The hoary tricks
win :en his dogged ingenuity
e taxed to the utmost to
defend that Power
any share of success. The
I la t, that his Lordship will
ter, the vaunting

coward, the treacherous Ally, the insidious foe—
the " bane of council and disease of war." Austria
—defended by Earl GREY ! It will be a treat ; only
these treats take up the time of the House.

DRURY-LANE THEATRE.

AMATEUR PERFORMANCE.

The recent pantomimic performance at the Olympic,
by a party of well-known literary gentlemen, gave so
much surprise and pleasure that they were indubed to
give a repetition of it last evening at Drury-lane in aid
of the funds of the Wellington Hospital. The excite-
ment was such that the demand for places was immense;
but it was wisely determined to limit the number of ad-
missions, so that the theatre might not be inconveniently
crowded. The Queen and Prince Albert, with two of
the royal children, were present, and the audience was
very fashionable and elegant. Before the pantomime,
Planche's one-act piece, A Romantic Idea, was pretty
well acted, entirely by amateurs, except the two female
parts, which were taken by Mrs. German Reed (late
Miss P. Horton) and Miss M. Oliver. The pantomime
was Gey Fawkes, performed as before—all the actors
being amateurs except Miss Rosina Wright, who was a
very charming Columbine. It is a genuine pantomime
of the old school. The introduction portion is written
with much wit and spirit ; and the Ilarlequinade 's ex-
,!eedingly antu,ing—full of ingenious tricks and capital
practical joke,. The pet fanners were surprisingly au
fait, and quite up to pantomimic business, especially the
Clown, who reminded us of the old days of Grimaldi.
The whole piece was as well received as on its first per-
formance ; the audience laughed and applauded inces-
santly from the first scene to the last. Besides giving
their audience a merry evening, the amateurs have done
a good action, as they must have contributed a very con-
siderable aid to the funds of a ♦aluable charity.
It is pleasant to state that the committee have re-
ceived throughout the roost lively co-operation from Mr.
E. T. Smith, lessee of the theatre, whose co-operation
has been acknowledged by the presentation of a very
handsome souvenir.