The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-06 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1155.

THE NEW MINISTRY.

Lord Palmerston, it would appear, is still en-
gaged in the work of forming a new Administra-
tion ; but it is stated that some difficulties exist
in the completion of the Cabinet. One authority
attributes the difficulty to Earl Grey, whilst an-
other, which is perhaps more reliable, assigns it
to Mr. Gladstone. In the event, however, of
Mr. Gladstone declining to act with Lord Pal-
merston, it is not improbable that his office will
be accepted by Sir Charles Wood, who has already
had several inter views with the noble lord on the
subject. Sir William Moleswcrrth is not unwilling
to undertake the Colonies ; and should such an
arrangement be come to, the 'Woods and Forests
will be again placed in the bands of the Earl of
Carlisle or Lord Elcho, Sir George Grey returning
to the Rome-aloe. It is right that we should
add, that this appropriation of offices is based
upon extreme probability, under existing circum-
stances, and the intercommunication which has
taken place between the future Premier and the
personages alluded to, during last night and this
morning, would seem to strengthen the impres-

sion.

Her Majesty came to town this morning about
half-past 12 o'clock, and Lord Palmerston, in
obedience to her Royal commands, immediately
afterwards had an audience with the Queen at
Buckingham Palace, which lasted some time.
There can be hardly room for doubt, if present
appearances are to be relied. upon, that the noble
-lord has determined to form an Administration,
and in the event of his not meeting with that
support in the Commons which the exigencies of
the time demand, he will most likely appeal to
the country, where his popularity is unquestion-
able.

It is just possible that something certain may
transpire ii the house this evening.

Lord PALMERSTON is engaged in the formation
of a new Government, but his arrangements have
not as yet been completed. Business has there-
fore been again adjourned, in order to give ample
time to the Noble Lord. Grievously as the
nation is suffering from the consequences of a
Ministerial interregnum, we do net object to the
delay. It is but an act of simple justice, of
that common fair play so dear to every true
British heart, that he should receive reasonable
time. We want a finished piece of workman-
ship—one that can bear the stringent tests to
which it will unquestionably be subjected ; and
therefore we shall not unduly press the performer,
but will cheerfully assent to every reasonable
application for indulgence.
But while we thus freely yield the necessary
time, we look forward to adequate results. We
cannot be contented, after the loss of a week or
ten days—a matter of no trivial importance at the
present crisis—to find that there has been merely a
shuffling of the cards—a change of parts, but not
of performers—a new combination of the used-up
dramatis personce. We want the infusion of new
blood—of fresh, vigorous, and energetic vitality
into the worn-out concern. It will not do to
have the " virtuous old man," who twaddles per-
petually about " the blessings of peace," and is
always ready to receive the impending buffet, and
to forgive his persecutors, obtruded on the audi-
ence. His spurious sentimentality and palpable
incapacity alike disgust the House ; and after
having been hissed off, with singular unanimity,
in one character, he cannot be received or tole-
rated in another. We may add—" Woe to the
manager who shall venture to trespass on the
public by such an experiment ! which, in the case
of a provincial theatre, might load to the tearing
up of the benches—in that of the Grand Drama
at Westminster, to an impeachment."
We need not say how we are affected towards
Lord PALMERSTON. For years we have recognised
with admiration the ability and energy which he
displayed in discharge of the duties confided to his
charge. But it was in the Foreign Office that his
services were most beneficial. There his great
experience, his thorough appreciation of diplo-
matic humbug, and tact in cutting short illusory
negotiations, would have been peculiarly valuable.
His very name, as the Minister, not of Russia, of
Austria, or of Germany, but of Great Britain—
who might in that capacity have fairly adopted the
motto, "Memo me impitne lacessit"—would alone
hava proved a tower of strength, and prevented
the War. But lie was transferred to a compara-
tively minor position. In place of taking the part
for which he was peculiarly qualified, he was •
pitchferked into a place where he was not wanted.
That he made a good Home Secretary was unde-
niable. But he would hare done anything well,
and there was as great a waste of power as if some
exigeant manager had required EDMUND KEEN to
fill the part of Banquo. His true position
should have been either at the head of
the Ministry or in the War Department.
His holding any other office led to the belief that
he had relinquished his ancient and well-known
policy—a policy at which despotismtrembled—and
that he had been converted to Germanism, to
that very Gerinanism that led to his unwarrant-
able expulsion from the Government on a previous
occasion. Under, such circumstances his
presence in the Cabinet did more harm than
good—inasmuch as it proved that his foreign
policy was no longer in the ascendant,
whiche ig
n was-oili
ce testified Lifted by his absence from , the
F r
and still more by the fact that
as a member of the Ministry, albeit in a totally
different department, he could not bring his
powers to bear against any erroneous proceedings,
or join in the attacks to which his colleagues
might expose themselves. Thus not only were his
exertions neutralised, but they were rendered
positively mischievous I
But what might have saved the country from
all the annoyance,
expense, and inconveni-
Winhat would have preventedthe first instance, will
nenotee'noiwf sandffiopcetd
.e
a fracture will not repair theorbreevaecnh .
as
aFor-
merly PALMERSTON as Premier,
Minister, would have saved the Coalition. But