The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-29 00:00:00

THE NEW PREMIER.

GEORGE HAMILTON GORDON, Earl of Aberdeen,
Viscount Formantine, Lord Haddo, Methlie,
Tarves, and Kellie, in the Peerage of Scotland,
and Viscount Gordon in that of the United King-
dom, has, as he truly remarked in his statement to
the House of Lords on Monday evening, "arrived
at the very verge of the period assigned to human
life." The Noble Earl was born on the 28th of
January, 1784. He has, consequently, nearly
completed his sixty-ninth year. He entered into
possession of the family estates and honours on
the death of his grandfather, on the 13th of
August, 1801, when only seventeen years of age.
Shortly after attaining his majority, in July,
1805, he married CATHERINE ELIZABETH, eldest
surviving daughter of JOHN JAMES, first Marquis
of Abercorn. By this lady, who died in 1812,
he had only one child, a daughter, who at-
tained maturity. In June, 1814, he re-
ceived the English Viscountcy (GoßnoN) under
which he takes his seat in the House of
Lords. The following year (in July, 1815) he
entered into a second matrimonial•connexion with
HARRIET, grand-daughter of JAMES, 4th Earl of
Morton (by his second marriage with BRIDGET,
daughter of Sir JOHN HEATHCOTE, Baronet, of

Normanton, in the county of Rutland) and widow

of JAMES, Viscount Hamilton, the father of the
present Marquis of ABERCORN. This lady (by
whom he had several children) was thus sister-in-
law to his first wife, being the widow of her bro-
ther. Every argument that has been used in
opposition to the Marriages Affinity Bill equally
applies to such a connexion. The Noble Earl will
then, it is to be hoped, use every exertion to ob-

tain the repeal of the law which has led to
so many well-founded complaints, and which
has subjected many men of religious and moral
character to the deepest annoyance. The
House of Commons has repeatedly decided
by large majorities that the enactment was
unjust and impolitic—that a law unduly re-
stricting individuals in their dearest and most
sacred relations which affects to bind the
consciences of men in matters regarding which
there is neither any scriptural nor moral precept—
and which is therefore habitually disregarded—
cannot possibly be maintained. The accession to
power of Lord ABERDEEN leads to the reasonable
anticipation, that the matter will now be vigor-
ously pushed forward in the hereditary branch
_ _ _ _ _

of the Legislature, where the strongest opposition
was offered to its progress. This hope is
strengthened and confirmed by the ap-
pointment of the Earl of ST. GERMANS—the
consistent, talented, and energetic advocate
for the removal of the unjust law, to the Lord-
Lieutenancy of Ireland. We cannot doubt,
therefore, that, with such persons in office, the
vexata questio will be finally and satisfactorily
disposed of, and that ere many months have
elapsed.

To return to the subject of our notice—the
new Premier. His Lordship has three times held
office as a Cabinet Minister—twice as Secretary
for Foreign Affairs, and once for the Colonies.
He first came in as Foreign Secretary under the
Duke of WELLINGTON, in 1828, and continued
until the defeat of that Administration on the
Civil List, in 1830. When Sir ROBERT PRET.
became Premier, in 1834, Lord ABERDEEN
took office as Colonial Secretary, from which
he was speedily removed, that Ministry
holding together only four months. On
the resumption of power by the PEEL
party in 1841, he was again appointed Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, in which office he
continued until the formation of the RUSSELL Ad-
ministration in 1846. It is almost unnecessary
to observe that his foreign policy during his seven
years of office was very different from that of his
new colleague, the brilliant and energetic Lord
PALMERSTON ; and that when in opposition, he
repeatedly complained of matters in the depart-
ment over which he had twice presided. In the
Dor/ PACIFICO debate he both spoke and voted in
condemnation of the policy of his successor in
office. On that occasion, at least, he worked
hand and heart with his predecessor, Lord DERBY,
from whom, indeed, he rarely differed, except on
the question that has finally been disposed of—
f. of " Free Trade," or " unrestricted com-
petition." It is almost unnecessary to add; that
the censure which was then carried in the Lords
was shortly afterwards triumphantly reversed in
the House of Commons, where a glorious victory
was achieved on Mr. ROEBUCK'S motion. The
barbed arrow, therefore, fell pointless from the
broad shield against which it was hurled.
The Noble Earl adopted the policy of the
Peelite party on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill—a
policy which has enabled a section, consisting of
thirty-three persons, to obtain a full moiety of
the loaves and fishes available at the inauguration
of a New Administration. He will on this point,
therefore, have peculiar advantages in dealing
with the Irish party, and will unquestion-
ably receive fair play at their hands. The
appointment of Mr. KEOGH as Solicitor-General
for Ireland will also, no doubt, have a very bene-
ficial effect in securing the co-operation of that party.
It was, as we pointed out at the time, a great
error on the part of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S Go-
vernment, that they disregarded the claims of
that learned gentleman to the situation to which
he has at length been appointed. On the other
hand, Lord ABERDEEN supported the amendment
of the Earl of EGLINTON on the Diplomatic Rela-
tions with Rome. Bill, the success of which neu-
tralised the advantages anticipated from that
measure.

The Noble Earl long filled the office of Presi-
dent of the Society of Antiquaries—he was also
Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, and
Ranger of Greenwich Park. It remains to be
seen whether he will have strength to keep to-
gether the party whom he has contrived, fog' the
time being, to unite under his presidency.

The Earl and Countess of Derby left town yesterday
for Knowsley, Lancashire.
Sir Charles Wood left town last evening for Halifax,
to attend his re-election.
REPRESENTATION OF OXFORD.—Mr. Cardwell has
announced himself as candidate for the representation of
the city of Oxford, in the room of Sir William Page
Wood, who has accepted the office of Vice-Chancellor.
The right honourable gentleman will canvass the electors
to-day.
SIR GEORGE GREY.—We are informed that Sir George
Grey is to appear as candidate for the representation of
Morpeth, in the room of the Hon. Charles Howard, who
has accepted the Chiltern Hundreds.