The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-18 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1852.

If any doubt could have been entertained as to
the intentions of the DERBY Government, it would
be set at rest h
, Y the statement of Lord MALMES-
BURY, that tue PREMIER had repaired to Osborne
to seek an audience
Of Her MAJESTY. The resig-
nation of the entire Cabinet has unquestionably
been tendered to the SOVEREIGN and it is equally
certain that it has been accepted'.
The only point
remaining to be ascertained is, who will be the
new Prime Minister—on whom
w. -
ll]. the QUEEN
confer the arduous and important duty of forming
As we stated yesterday, there
the new Ministry ?
is a general feeling that "the famil
without the
Y party" can
never again hold the reins of power,
infusion of new and more vigorous blood. It is
further asserted that Lord Jonx Russpaa,
will not be required to undertake the
situation - of First Lord of the Treasury ; but
tha-b as the' triumph belonged to a coalition, the
fruits' of the victory will be divided among :those
who rendered efficient aid in the struggle. The
PEEL party, it will be acknowledged, took a
prominent part in the broceedings. GLADSTONE,
WI Ail A nx,
and GOULBURN, put forth their utmost
strength, and entered heart and hand into the
contest. , Indeed, it was apparent that they had,
or believed they had, a direct interest in the re-
sult ; and that if success attended their exertions;
they
.would be required to forget minor differ-
epees, and once more assume: li, portion of the
cares and responsibilities of office. •
It hastindeed,, been for some time anticipated,
that . the\'' paiir which, although numerically

small, was powerful in the ability and experience
of its leaders, would be speedily called to the
Councils of their SOVEREIGN. They could control
the balance of power, and make the scale incline
to either side as they might deem expedient ;

and it was known that overtures had been made

from both sides—the DERBYITES and the Rus-
SELLITES, who were equally desirous of obtaining
the co-operation of such efficient auxiliaries. It
was on the refusal of Mr. GLADSTONE to join a
DERBY Administration that the late PREMIER re-
linquished the attempt in the beginning of 1851 ;
and Lord JOHN RUSSELL, when called on to con-
tinue in office, in vain endeavoured to secure the
services of GRAHAM and ABERDEEN, of HERBERT
and NEWCASTLE. The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill,
however, constituted an impediment that could
not be overcome ; and, like their great leader,
the PEELITES were contented "to bide their
time," well knowing that sooner or later it must
arrive. It has at length arrived, and they are
about to reap the fruits of their patient tactics
and judicious strategy.
What share will they now demand in the new
dministration ? Although their numbers dimi-
nished at the last general election, their power was
increased as the others became more equal in
strength. They are well aware of that power ;
and if they do not demand the lion's share, it is
almost certain that they will not be contented
with anything less than a full and fair participa-
tion in that which is about to be distributed
among the Parliamentary expectants. It is gene-
rally believed that they will not consent to
become subordinate to Lord JOHN RUSSELL, but
that if any of the late Whig. Administration
will be permitted to assume the chief place, that
the Marquis of LANSDOWNE is the man. The un-
blemished reputation of the veteran statesman—
the universal respect entertained for his character
and consistency, lead to the belief that he ' would
be willingly accepted by all parties. But the great
age of the Noble Marquis, and we regret to
be obliged to add, his increasing infirmities, render
it, to say the least of it, exceedingly improbable
that he will undertake a position involving not
merely so great responsibilities, but such excessive
toil. He has already announced his intention of
returning to the enjoyment of the "otium cunt dig
nitate," which he has so eminently deserved. We
have no doubt that he will exert all his powers
and all his influence, to smooth away asperities,
and remove the obstructions to a united
Ministry. For this purpose he may consent to
hold a place in the Cabinet, either with or with-
out office. But we do not believe that he would un-
dertake the most onerous position—one that would
be utterly inconsistent with his advanced years.

The name of the Earl of ABERDEEN has also
been mentioned, and it is by no means unlikely
that the quondam Foreign Secretary may be
placed at the head of a Cabinet containing
many men superior to himself in talent and abi-
lity. Those who would refuse to serve under
Lord JOHN RTJSSELL, or Sir JAMES GRAHAM, or
Mr. GLADSTONE, might consent to render allegiance
to the respectable mediocrity of " Get-Excellent
ABERDEEN." His position would be something
similar to that formerly occupied by the Earl of
LIVERPOOL, and subsequently by Lord GODERICH
—a bond to cement the union between the conflict-
ing elements of the Cabinet, but scarcely possessing
the weight or influence that should belong to the
station.

It is said that Lords LANSDOWNE and ABER-
DEEN have gone to Osborne. It is, then, more
than probable that " the travelled Thane" will be
the nominal head of the new Government, and that
there will be a complete fusion of the Peelites and
Whigs, Lord JOHN RUSSELL taking the lead in
the House of Commons, either as one of the
SECRETARIES of STATE or CHANCELLOR Of the Ex-
cHEQuEß—most probably the former. We believe,
too, that the services of the GREY clique will be
dispensed with ; and that if the recent exertions
of Sir CHARLES WOOD should be considered to
entitle him to any position, it will not be at all
connected with the financial department.
Considerable doubts are entertained as to
whether the Manchester School will be repre-
sented in the New Cabinet. If not, if the basis be
not rendered very wide, we should not augur
very favourably as to the probable duration of
the New Cabinet. The question of the further
extension of the principle of direct taxation, and
the- distiaction between permanent and pre-
carious income, will constitute a great, if not
au insurmountable, impediment to this junc-
tion. It is, however, on the fiscal policy
of the Government, more especially on the
Property and Income Tax that all will depend.
Mr. DISRAELI has assumed a position on that
subject in accordance with the common sense of
the country, and if the crotchets of GLADSTONE
and GOULBURN are to be sustained, we cannot
anticipate any prolonged tenure of office for those
who set themselves in opposition to the tide of
public opinion. A few days must now solve
the problem. Nothing can, of course, be done
before the Christnias recess beyond the formation
of a Ministry 3 =an t we must patiently await the
reassembling of Parliament for the development
of the new -financial policy.

A simultaneous effort is being made to advance
the political and artistic education of the co (=u-
nity. Deprived of the chance of any immediate
and comprehensive scheme of National Educa-
tion—familiarising the population with all the
various department&, of , human knowledge—the
people of the United Kingdom are to have their
taste cultivated by an enterprise about to grow up
in the market gardens between Brompton and
Kensington, while their minds are being agreeably
surfeited with Parliamentary Literature. The
paper duty is not to be remitted, but blue books
are to be supplied gratuitously to Mechanics' In-
stitutions. The nation, it seems, is to learn wis-
dom, not at the knees of GAMALIEL, but of Han-
sard. Learning, as well as Religion, is, it would
appear, to be henceforth regarded as by law esta-
blished. While we cannot but still regret
the apathy evinced by our rulers in re-
ference to the grandest of all the promo-
ters of civilisation, we are, nevertheless, so
profoundly impressed with the necessity of some-
thing being at once effected-in the way of impart-
ing instruction of some sort to the multitude,
,that
we hail even the almost imperceptible' movement
in that direction above indicated, with a pecu-
liar degree of satisfaction. Better for the people
to have blue books than no books at all. Better
for them to spell out the science of political eco-
nomy through the laborious researches of Com-
mittee-men and Chancellors of the Exchequer,
than to guess, without any guide or assistance
whatsoever, the drift of the arguments put for-
ward in the writings of ADAM SMITH, MILLS,
RICARDO, and McCuLLocu. It is a step in ad-
vance, and, as such, is unquestionably entitled
to commendation. Like so many other changes
already hinted at, or already effected since
the DERBY Ministry came into power,
it betrays on their part a slight, but at the
same time, however slight, most gratifying recog-
nition of the responsibilities devolving upon the
Members of a Government. Whatever may be
thought of the inadequacy of the projected im-
provements—improvements they are admitted to
be on all hands—contrasting as they do so
strangely with the torpor or indifference of past
Administrations.

and a total abrogation of the tax ley].
A remission, we repeat, of the P.eadpeurpDonutAieds-,
vertisements, would have been infinitely more ac-
ceptable to the intelligent part of the population.
Yet, in the absence of those great boons, we are
disposed now to welcome with an apparently dis-
proportioned ardour, the resolution lately ar-
rived at by the Legislature, to forward
periodically
• to our Mechanics' Institutions,
those voluminous documents which may be re-
garded as constituting the mass of Parliamentary
Literature. The adoption of this course would be
the more commendable if we could believe for one
moment that these same institutions scattered
~ho England have really been provided
fi
actuallyforones
moment that such is the case
v (ri:ti andgh os areuet
altogether preposterous—it would be
evidencing'Toouls beo a total iao-uoranee of the condition and

character of those establishments. We wish most
heartily that the fact could be rendered otherwise.
We wish that it had been veritably and not merely
nominally to mechanics that the Earl of CARLISLE
delivered his graceful disquisition upon the
genius of • POPE, and upon the aspect of
the American Republic. We wish it had been
to mechanics that Sir BuLwER LYTTON delivered,
at Hertford, his thoughtful and eloquent oration
upon knowledge. We should have rejoiced more
cordially if it had been to mechanics that the Earl
of BELFAST delivered his ingenious essays upon the
poetry of therecent and present generation. It
would have enhanced our satisfaction at the occur-
rence to have known that at Leeds, the other day,
mechanics in their fustian jackets, as well as
clerks in their broad cloth, had been among
the audience addressed by Lord JOHN RUSSELL :
and it would have increased the interest felt in
reference to the Lecture about to be delivered at
Hull by the learned and gifted Recorder, Mr.
WARREN, if we could credit the possibility of his
hearers numbering in their ranks the work-be-
grimed and horny-handed members of the indus-
trial population. As matters are, however, it is not
so—Mechanics' Institutions beink apparently or-
ganised for the advantage of every one except
mechanics. So that the poorer classes of the com-
munity will reap no benefit at all from this pro-
ceeding in reference to what we have spoken of
before as Parliamentary Literature. The blue
books are to be supplied gratuitously to Mechanics'
Institutions—not to the rendezvous of mechanics,
but to Mechanics' Institutions—meaning to the
trades-people of our various towns assembling at
those miscalled establishments. From the very mea-
sure which is about to be (to a great extent, we be-
lieve, ineffectually) adopted in regard to those
well-known institutions, we are sanguine, that
there may ultimately arise their total re-organi-
sation. It is needed. It has long been required.
Let us change the names of those actually in ex-
istence, or in justice let us admit the artisans—
the cobblers, and tinkers, and carpenters—to a
participation in the benefits accruing from their
existence. A ridiculous injustice requires to be
removed, and in effecting its removal we shall be
destroying a very grievous evil, while we are
conferring an incalculable blessing upon a consi-
derable and neglected class of the community.
For calling our attention to the necessity of this
improvement, we are indebted to the recent resolve
of the Legislature, to supply blue books gratuit-
ously to Mechanics' Institutions.

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, DEC. 17,

Owing to the unfavourable weather the Queen and
Royal Family were unable to leave the house yesterday
afternoon.

The Prince of Leiningen, wh.o remains on a visit to
her Majesty, was the only addition to the royal dinner
party.

The Earl of Derby left town at three o'clock yester-
day afternoon, by the London and South-Western Rail-
way, for Osborne, Isle of Wight, to have an audience of
the Queen.

Baron de Brunnow, the Russian Minister, transacted
business yesterday at the Foreign-office.
Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. Richard Lambert had
interviews with Mr. Secretary Walpole yesterday, at
the Home-office.

Dispatches were sent yesterday from the Colonial-
office to the Governor-General of Canada.

His Excellency Lord Howard de Walden has left
Harcourt House (the Duke of Portland's) to resume his
diplomatic functions at Brussels. His lordship had audi-
ence of the King on Wednesday, at which he presented
Mr. Bates, the chairman of the Namur and Liege Railway.
THE MINISTRY.—It may be right to mention that her
Majesty was not taken by surprise, either by the vote of
the House of Commons yesterday morning, or by the con-
sequent resolution of Lord Derby to resign. His lordship
prepared her Majesty for both contingencies, on Tuesday
morning, after learning the determination unanimously
come to of the Irish Liberal members to vote against the
resolutions moved by Mr. Disraeli. From that moment he
saw that the doom of his Administration was sealed. The
great question now is—Who is to be the successor of Lord
Derby ? The prevalent opinion at the West-end was, that
his lordship would advise her Majesty to send for Lord
Aberdeen, and that to the latter noble lord would be con-
fided the task of forming a new Administration. In the
course of to-day we shall doubtless learn whether this im-
pression be or be not correct. The noble earl had not, up
to a late hour last night, received her Majesty's commands
to proceed to Osborne House, but it is possible he may re
ceive them early this morning. It is stated that Lord
John Russell will not offer any opposition to an Aberdeen
Government ; but that he will, on the contrary, give it
his support, provided it bring forward no important mea-
sure of an objectionable kind. It is added that the ex-
Whig Premier deems this the wisest course which he could,
in existing circumstances, pursue, because by giving a
helping hand to an Aberdeen Ministry for two or three
months, he will have. time allowed him to bring about a
better understanding among the various sections of Liberals
than at present exists. As affording prdsumptive confir-
mation of this view of matters, we may mention that a
meeting took place, some days ago, at the Duke of Bed-
ford's, at which the Duke himself, Lord John Russell, Lord
Aberdeen, and Mr. Gladstone were present. It is believed
that at this meeting of these four important political per-
sonages the adoption of the course of conduct which we
have indicated was determined on.—Morning Advertiser;
CONTRACT FOR Rum FOR THE NAVY.—The contract
for rum for the navy, to be delivered at Deptford, was
taken by Messrs. Lemon Hart and Son, of Fenchurch-
street, on the 9th instant ; and the contract for rum also
for the navy, to be delivered at Gosport, was yesterday
taken by the same firm.
THE Corrvicr JOHN HORLER.—This unfortunate con-
vict who was tried on Thursday, before Mr. Justice Wight-
man, remains in a most desponding way since the sentence.
A petition is in the course of signature, praying her Gra-
cious Majesty's mercy may be extended to this unfortunate
young man. The petitioners urge their prayer on the
grounds of temporary insanity occasioned by imagined in-
juries received from the wife's relatives. The petition will
be forwarded to the Home Secretary.
SUICIDE OF A REDUCED SURGEON BY TAKING CHLORO-
FORM.—Yesterday an inquest was taken by Mr. William
Payne, the coroner, in the Vestry-hall, of St. John's, Fair-
street, Ilorsleydown, touching the death of Mr. Theophilus
Webb Green, aged 45 years, formerly a surgeon and licen-
tiate of Apothecaries' Hall, who committed suicide by
swallowing a quantity of chloroform. The jury returned
a verdict of "Remporary insanity." A subscription was
raised for the benefit of the widow and children- f the de-
ceased, and the sum of 21. Ils. was collected, including a
contribution by the worthy coroner.
THE ROBBERY AT MESSRS. WHITTAKER'fii.-,-*JUst be-
fore the adjournment of the Central Criminal Court on
Thursday evening, John Cooper, who was conirieted at the
November session of robbing his employers, the represen-
tatives of the well-known firm of Whittaker and Co.,
booksellers, of Ave Maria-lane, was placed at the bar for
judgment. Before sentence was passed the prisoner so-
lemnly asserted his innocence, and said that he had entered
the service of Mr. Hood, the prosecutor, with the highest
testimonials, and' during the fifteen years he had been in
the employment of-the firm no complaint had ever been
made against him. Mr. Justice Wightman, the presiding
judge, said he knew nothing of the facts of the case, and
all he had to do was to pronounce the sentence which Mr.
Baron Alderson, who tried it, considered ought to be
awarded to meet the requirements of justice, which was,
that he should be transported for ten years.
EASTERN COUNTIES RAlLWAY.—Yesterday, a special
general meeting of the Eastern Counties Company was
held at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, for the pur-
pose of receiving a statement from the directors as to the
measures intended to be brought forward in Parliament
in the ensuing session on behalf of the company, or
by other parties, and which affect the interests of
this company. Mr. D. Waddington took the chair, and
stated that, amongst the various schemes to be brought
forward, was one by the New Electric Telegraph Com-
pany, which required watching. In respect to the Har-
wich Docks, no agreement for a guarantee from this com-
pany would be come to, without first calling a meeting of
the shareholders. The proposition of the Eastern Union
to make a line from Wisbeach to Spalding, would require
the vigilance of the directors to see it did not injure the
prospects of this company. The line to the Victoria Docks
would be beneficial both to the Dock Company and the
Eastern Counties Line. The proposed line to Woodford
and Leyton would pay the average dividend of 5 per cent.,
and was recommended as a pleasure line, which could be
constructed for 105,0001. The chairman having pointed
out the advantage of capitalising the mortgage, debt by
preference shares, at a low interest, stated that in the act
it would be left to the shareholders to nominate the direc-
tors on vacancies happening betwixt the general meetings.
The meeting having expressed their thanks to the chairman
for his explanations, adjourned.
MORE INUNDATIONS.—The metropolis and suburban
districts were, on Thursday night and yesterday morning,
again visited by tremendous showers of rain, which accu-
mulated in such vast streams in the corn-fields and market-
gardens as to cause a still greater destruction of property ;
and—what is a very unusual circumstance at this time of
year—heavy peals of thunder reverberated for some hours
during the height of the storm, whilst the lightning shone
forth so vividly as at times to light up the streets of Lon-
don. The river, in some places, again rose several inches ;
but in the marshes and low lands it was between two and
three feet high. The whole of the railways are stated to
have received considerable damage by the great accumula-
tion of water upon the surface of the permanent ways, but
more so in the cuttings. In several places, especially on
the South-Western line, as the trains pass over the metals,
the sleepers are forced down to such an extent as to cause
the water and soil to ooze up. Careful surveys are being
made, and wherever the least danger is apprehended fresh
ballast is thrown down, and every precaution taken to pre-
vent accidents. The accident, which took place at the
tunnel near Winchester, on Thursday, is attributable en-
tirely to the heavy fall of rain, which so loosened the chalk
as to cause several tons weight to fall and choke up the
rails. Before anything was known of the accident, one of
the long goods trains ran into the tunnel, and the driver of
the engine was first informed of what had occurred by the
wheels of the locomotive running on the chalk, and the
train being thrown off the metals. The mail was not then
near due, consequently sufficient time elapsed to signal it
of the accident which had happened, more especially as it
was seven minutes after time in reaching that spot. For-
tunately no one was hurt, and after the space of three
hours or a little more, one of the rails was cleared, but it
was late in the day before the two lines were perfectly
cleared of all obstruction. The tunnel during yesterday
was sufficiently protected as to prevent the possibility of a
similar occurrence.