The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-24 00:00:00

cretary, at all times, but more especially at the pre-
sent juncture, one of the most difficult offices of the
Government. The ability displayed by him In
editing the " Diaries and Correspondence" of his
grandfather, the celebrated diplomatist, can hardly be
accepted as sufficient testimony that he of all men in
the United Kingdom is the most admirably fitted to
succeed the post long occupied by a statesman no less
eminent than Lord PALMERSTON. During the brief
time that Lord MALMESBURY i 3 likely to preside over
the Foreign-office, it is nevertheless to be hoped that
the principle implied in the Noble Earl smotto will not
be forgotten— übique patriam reminzact—everywhere
to remember his country. While still in the flower
of his age, we can expect from Lord JOHN MANNERS
not very much of those business habits which
are almost indispensable in the conduct of the Woods
and Forests, habits which were so admirably com-
bined with scholarship and philanthropy, in the
mind and heart of the Earl of CARLISLE. We can
imagine, moreover,.that Sir Jonzt PAILINGTON would
continue to make a very excellent county magistrate,
but that his capacities are adequate for the responsi-
bilities devolving upon a Colonial Secretary, we
cannot for an instant anticipate. Among
those who hare really acquainted them-
selves with the toils of administration, and whose
names are inscribed on the programme of the new
Protectionist Government—the Earl of LoNSDALE, it
must be admitted, stands forth as not the least con-
spicuous. Having acted already successively as Lord
of the Admiralty, and of the Treasury, as Chief
Commissioner of Woods and Forests, as Treasurer of
the Navy, as Vice-President of the Board of Trade,
and as Postmaster-General, he may be regarded, per•
haps, as having qualified himself in some mea-
sure to fulfil the duties of President of the Council,
the post to which he has just been appointed. _Va-
gistratus indicat virum are the words inscribed upon
his shield, and so may his present office during the
short interval of his continuance in it, reveal his
ability as an administrator I With the nomination
of the Duke of NORTHUMBERLAND to the head of the
Board of Admiralty the people generally, we feel
assured, will be tolerably well satisfied—his Grace
being somewhat better suited to the post than Sir
FRANCIS BARING, having from his early youth been
associated with the Royal Navy of England. Scarcely
as well adapted to the office of Post-master General,
the Earl of HARDWICRE will nevertheless we feel
persuaded reflect no discredit upon that department
of the public service, as the successor of the Marquis
of CLANRICARDE. Instead of the Earl of ELLEN-
BOROUGH, the Right Hon. Gentleman the representa-
tive of Stamford has been elevated to the post of Pre-
sident of the Board of Control ; so that however much
we may feel disposed to regret the change here in-
dicated, we have reason to rejoice that a man no less
experienced than Mr. HERRIES has been selected for
that important office, at a time when the renewal of
the East India Charter must so very speedily be
brought under the consideration of the Government
and the Legislature. It can hardly be matter of sur-
prise that the dignity of Lord Privy Seal has
been declined by Lord LYNDHURST, bearing
in mind the broken health of the Noble
and learned ex-Chancellor. Who will be nominated
in his place to the vacant post it would seem yet re-
mains to be decided. As we intimated yesterday, Sir
EDWARD SUGDEN, after being raised to the peerage,
will be elevated to the woolsack, a promotion which,
under all circumstances, can create as little regret as
amazement, when the profound and astute genius of
the ex-Chancellor of Ireland is borne in recollection.
Perhaps the most astounding and unaccountable ap-
pointment of all is that of Mr. WALPOLE
as Secretary of State for the Home Department.
His antecedents are so very few and so very
questionable as to render us naturally dismayed at
the fact of so singularly important a position being
abruptly intrusted to one who has never yet re-
vealed any aptitude whatever as a statesman. Another,
and of all, maybe, the most noticeable is the nomi-
nation of Mr. DISRAELI, as Leader in the House of
Commons, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. The
position is one which has, at least, been nobly earned
by the Hon. Gentleman (soon to be the Right Hon.
Gentleman) the Member for the county of Bucking-
ham. His consummate ability as a debater
remains no longer to be demonstrated, having been
evidenced beyond all misapprehension during the
course of many very memorable sessions of the Im-
perial Parliament. It now remains to be seen whe-
ther Mr. DISRAELI possesses, in addition to this, any
kindred capacity as a financier, and cause for hope
in this matter remains to the nation in the fact of the
indisputable genius revealed by him in almost all the
various departments of intellectual labour upon which
his ambition has ever adventured. Such are ;the
most remarkable among the constituent portions of
the Protectionist Cabinet, that Cabinet which—we
repeat it—is little better than a Provisional Govern-
ment.

The Society for Promoting the Amendment of the
Law is steadily pursuing its useful labours. Every
question of importance or interest in any degree re-
lating to legal reform, is closely investigated, and the
learning, experience, industry, and talent of the
members brought to bear on the topic under dis-
cussion. The facts of the case are clearly and dis-
tinctly set forth, "so that he who runs may read;"
the grievances and abuses that have sprung up
during successive ages are indicated and explained in
a manner intelligible to the meanest capacity, and
valuable suggestions offered for their abatement.
Such an association, numbering among its members
many gentlemen of the highest professional attain-
ments, and presided over by Lord BROUGHAM, the
" most distinguished" (we use the term advisedly)
legal reformer of modern times, must necessarily
achieve many beneficial results, and those gentlemen
who devote their time and labour, on which there are
so many demands, to the public advantage have en-
titled themselves to the marked thanks and gratitude
of the community.

The subject under discussion last night, and on
which an elaborate report was presented, referred to
the existing relations between the bar, the attorneys
and the clients. The rights and privileges of the
former influential classes must of course be taken
into consideration. Men who have been taxed so
highly as they have been, who have contributed so
largely to the national revenue, and induced to apply
their talents and industry to acquiring the knowledge
indispensable to the pursuit of their respective pro-
fessions., cannot be summarily discarded or thrown
Overboard. But the issue must be decided on other
and even higher grounds, than the professional and
personal inter4.A of either barristers or solici-
tors. The welfare of the community, the interests
of society, must chiefly be regarded. Any
privilege it,consistent with the advantage of " the
many"
in any degree opposed to public pol;c cannot
be permitted to stand.'
y
Every description
of
most the nostrils monopoly is now held in ab-
horrence, and ,tick, in
Certain restrictions of the people.
possession of the necessary
, however, occasionally be
interposed to insure the
seeking practice in certain
to
those
einvowlvheo the
were most
dgeupaalirfitienaetniqnsl'inbYwrirschcinthse ignorance or incompetence
of the praciitirnier might •
nmcseelves under ain-
ducederi
n--er his care withoutcpolancieeqtuhee
any
opportunity of testing his
ousto
previousabilities, Apo-
thecaries, surgeons' physicians, must go throu h
prescribed course, and submit to certain examgin a
a-
tions, with a view of testing their capacity, before being
allowed to make experiments on the health and con-
stitutions of their fellow-citizens. Those to whose
hands the protection of liberty and property are
confided should give similar proofs of their fitness ;
and inasmuch as it would be exceedingly impolitic to
enable any man, who chose to call himself ,4 a
doctor," to act in that capacity, so it would be very
injudicious to allow persons, merely because they
possess sufficient effrontery to appear in public and
argue points, on the law relating to which they are
utterly ignorant, to sacrifice the interests, and
perhaps ruin the prospects; of those who are so
foolish as to become clients. It is therefore for the
public advantage that there should be re-
strictions, and perhaps the two branches of i
the legal profession, the division of barristers 1
and attorneys, are as good as any that could
be devised. We must, however, take care that neither I
class should be permitted to carry their peculiar pri- 1
vileges to a point that must become
prejudicial to
society.
The Special Committee of the Society have put i