The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-15 00:00:00

THE WEATHER.—Strx Orrin, May. 15.
THERMOMETER, DT THE SHADE.
55—highest since noon yesterday.
41—lowest this morning and during the night.
50—this day, at noon.

BAEOMICTZEt, 29'61.
WIND, N.N.E.—Light breeze, with dull weather.

~~~

g,T.

S3lll,

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1855.

Lord ELLENBoßotron's motion, although very
ably brought forward and efficiently supported,
has been rejected by a large and decisive majority.
Of Peers in attendance there were 71 in favour of,
and 110 against, the resolutions ; and Ministers
enhanced their numbers by recording 66 proxies
on their side,while nonewere produced on behalf of
their opponents. The actual numbers therefore were
181 to 71, or nearly five to two against the motion.
This result is perhaps not very surprising, consi-
dering the arena in which the contest took place.
A less favourable audience could scarcely be
selected to complain to of an oligarchical Govern-
ment, and the undue selection of Noble Lords and
their immediate relatives and connexions for situa-
tions that might have been more efficiently filled
by less aristocratic persons. The demand for
Administrative Reform fell unpleasingly on the
ears of those who had profited in the persons
of their proteges so largely by the obnoxious
system. There were few of the assembled Peers
who had not some friend who might be affected
by the required changes in the public offices. The
very name of " reform" was distasteful to those
who had invariably been its strongest opponents,
whatever aspect it assumed. The mere notion of
" the selection of men for public employments,
-without regard to anything but the public sod.-
vice," was a heresy that startled many of their
lordships from the frigid indifference which they
ordinarily display, and induced them to flock to
the scene of action in order to defeat the daring
effort.

Lord ELLENBOROUGH had indeed undertaken a
task of no ordinary difficulty, and he performed
the arduous duty with admirable tact and judg-
ment. Many might have thought that he touched
too lightly on the monster grievances ; but he was
well aware of the feelings of his auditors, and he
suited his tone in manyparticulars to theircherislied
prejudices. Had he been in the House of Commons,
or, still better, in the London Tavern, with
SAMUEL MORLEY in the chair, and surrounded by
congenial spirits, we have no doubt that his
eloquence would have been more brilliant, his
arguments more convincing. Let it not be sup-
posed that we are censuring the Noble Lord for
any shortcomings or backslidings. Far from it.
On the contrary, he was entitled to the greater
credit for the obvious difficulties by which his
eours
"ias impeded,
a and uhich he surmounted by
. judicious Combination of boldness and dis-
cretion. is,Tothin.
felicitous than
his allusion
instance, could be mare
many
other
to the founders of I; ii
own and
noble. families---what lie
justly termed " the
of their origins !"
How could they, whPorineiPle
awed
and fortunes
House, their honours their seats in th,it
to the ser-
vices of their ancestors, consistently say, " It is
true our ancestors rose by fitness, but our
re.a_
tives shall enjoy advantages from connexion
us, and from favour !"
There was equal truth and boldness in the
assertion, that "to attribute anything to the
defects of system is the subterfuge of convic'cd
mediocrity. Mediocrity succumbs to system.
Ability dominates over it, and forces men into a
better course." This is clearly applicable to
those
/Ow strive to excuse themselves by attribut-
ing their Own errors and mistakes—their offences
of commission
and omission—to the prevailing