The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-23 00:00:00

E VENING,

MONDAY

i

SPIRIT of the
WH
eE a
..
Nr PUBLlCeEehWappyMINISTRY.
by Specialan cornea:ix
whilicEhßoAurlieDon•—tTemporari !
shall
The dNooubblte-
have to
kseastinsftyortmiescdtoicugletstkwemith.
his attendance staves for the last fort
been instructed to formt. edeigni:
less satisfy the wishes'''.
Lord arrived at his
Lord Derby,expectations a
()Life nks e
rof Majesty,th e nation.kas
shortly before seven o'clock dhmouinrsis,traastiwone.
esidence in St. James's-square
on Saturday, and a few mo-
ments afterwards a
with her Majesty about three-quarters commanding ueene nh 0 ear:, i veendd,
heer- qftriermtertsheogf
at Buckingham Palace at
half-past two eesterda The Noble Lord remained
with that zeal and ability for which he has always been
conspicuous, has undertaken the formation of the Cabi-
net. The names which
we are enabled to prefix will, we
think, be a sufficient guarantee that Lord Derby has set
about his task, thus imposed on him by his Sovereign,
ments which he has made earnestness; and that the arrange-
ment of the country will for conducting the govern-
tion. The speculations which
with -general satisfac-
last few hours, and have been afloat for the
which
served to amuse the idle-
ness or exercise the ingenuity of
the loungers, either
at the clubs or at journal
to certainty. Many
of offices, may now give way
been highly amusing to those those surmisess must have
cur-
tain, and who listened, (themselveswho were behind the
gra-
tuitous assumptions of learned unseen) to the
the principles and the quidnuncs with regard to
appointments
He does not intend to abjure of the Noble Lord.
Protection; he does not intend
not Wend (after the
to form a coalition either
either Protestantism or
with Whigs or Peelites; he d
approved fashion of the present
principles to which he has long day) to abandon those
given in his adherence,
t
and which will form the basis
Sound protection for British industry
administrative policy.
industry in its several
branches is what the nation desires,
of those difficulties and the amelioration of those evils
and the adjustment
which have, imperceptibly almost, gathered round our
social system. The weekly organ
sad, like another Othello, when of the late Ministry,
gone," vents his spleen by predicating
his occupartion is
is in no better condition for acceptinging that Lord Derby
office now than he
was last year. He is read
on it ; he speculates on the
eo stake his credit
chance of Lord
Derby's intent to cajole " his
confiding followers."
Our contemporary's connexions not in this re-
spect been of the most reputable hrve
in his lot with a set of politic
110 ns ; Le has thrown
act which he would attribute to Lord Derby
to whom the
erby has become
familiar; and be judges of others by himself and his
own acquaintances. The Noble Lor
be told that he
will not gratify
him; and it may cure his biliousness to
is a false prophet in both his speculations;_ Lord Derby
will not forsake nor deceive his party I
;
Administra-
tion is nearly formed, and is in working trim. We ns
ac-
cept our contemporary's cry : the Protectionists are
ready. We accept also the challenge which be would
place in the mouth of the people—So
are we eve wish
favour; nothing more than fair play and no f •
ur; that the
people of England should weigh well ths
measures to be
proposed to them, and test the statesmen whom Lord
Derby has called to share in the
Administration, with
those who have retired from, or with those
didates for office. It is an ungracious taskto trample
who are can
the fallen, and one for which we have not
the least
inclination. Still, when the task is forced upon us,
and " progressive prosperity and peaceful
success" are
claimed for the late Administration (can
we believe
our eyes!) we must ask, where are the proofs?
Is this praise undeserved a satire
who will
disguise? Is
there any party in the nation will take up this
cry of the late Ministerial advocates,
and e
venture
to respond to their hollow voice, which can create no
enthusiasm, no sympathy, itself devoid of both?
prosperity, success"—they sound strange • vat ewe'
ere are
they ? Perhaps we are to look for them in '
Rafraria, or
in our colonies, and their satisfactory relations wi •
th the
mother country. Perhaps, they lurk nearer home; for
lurk they do wherever they are; unless they eai only
in the brain of the writer. Perhaps, he finds thiss -
t -peacene--.1
and prosperity in the condition of the agriculturis
ts,
or
in the relations now existing between masters and
work-
men.
Perhaps, what all others have been trembling at
as indicative of war, to him wears the aspect of
and prosperity. Who can account for such - Peace
perversions!
Equally are we at a loss to discover the progressive
success that he boasts of. We have been labouring far
several years past under a Ministerial incubus, dreaming
a
sometimes of great, sometimes of horrible things, butr
-
realising nothing. We have scarcely vegetated—rOot e
to the spot, and it is the bitterest of all sarcasms to ridi-
cule such a state of things by the name of progress.
The
Ministry could scarce hold together, an unsual
act• •
ivity would have shaken them to pieces, a step
morer rapid than ordinary brought on a crisis. Their
pogression has been to the rear; their success is
thechronicled in the budgets of Sir Charles Wood anti
cdispatches of Earl Grey. If such incapables can
command the admiration of our contemporaries, that ad-
mirationan
being;
does not require any great things to fan it into
.ng; and the Noble Lord who has now been called to
cBdirected the councils of the nation, may rest perfect]
duals,
of. the applause of such easily•contented inyd'sa*-
, if, like his predecessor, he does no more 1".•
bring than
in measures which he has no intention
to press, or
pockets the salary of office, without being over
-solicitous
about the duties. Of this, however, we have appre-
hension. A strong and a vigorous Government
no
is re-
quired, and such a one we shall now have; one, too,
that shall not fall .into therive li d • l •
ng, captious indif-
ferentism of its predecessor.
The nation knows what.
Lord Derby is, and what it has to expect from him.
There can be no mistake; no sailing under false colours.
There can be no hypocrisyor deceit with respect to the
principles of the Noble Lord, or of those who are asso-
ciated with tarn. The nation
will recognise in the names
of more than ono of them
expe-
rience, and well-earned men
of
talent, long
reputati
whose temper, firmness'
and , on; men, also, to
prudence, those re-
forms may be entrusted
and so vainly desired. Unquestionably Lord Derby
a hard task before him; ho has to repair the
evils and correct the errorthan one department, of s
of
his
predecessors in more
which have taken deep the State—errors and evils
eradicated. He will have root, and will not very easily be
milted by men who will h to retrace false steps, com-
of their misdeeds, He will have escaped the responsibility
before there was nothing but to diffuse vigour where
he will have to grapple witedweakness and incapacity ;
come more perplexed in lfficulties, which have be-
of those who have consequenceto in of the inefficiency
the same time he has the with these difficulties. At
various functions with ability
for carrying out these
supported by colleagues whoseity and energy. He will be
is as great as that of any o experience, at all events,
—with the exception of sir their competitors for office
who are neither doctrinairesJames Graham; men,:alata
more than all, he will be
i
good sense of the nation • supported by the judgment and'
good aberrations, has als:rhieh, notwithstanding occae
to those of its servants who always shown itself favourable
duty, and has always been willing
have been earnest their
willing both to hear and to.
judge with candour.
TIMES.—The e oonseque j
more of the vote on Friday,
night have been much
rapid and decisive than,
those which followed a
the very same day, February similar event, strange to say, on;
Y2O, last year. On Satur
day afternoon, after a meeting -;
of the Cabinet, Lord John,
Ecasell proceeded to the
Queen Palace, and laid before the
the resignation for
Majesty by a note the previous he had prepared her
halt-past two o'clock, Lord 7usnight. Yesterday, at;
the Queen, and accepted the Derby had an audience of
nistration. For that he fully prepared, though of
cutnstances under which he modifications as the particular eir-
From the Palace ho proceeded office might require.
Disraeli, and afterwards, a 3 mightd to the residence of Mr.
vote of Friday night, be had an
be expected from the
an interview with Lord
Palmerston, from which, however,
we may add that the distin nothing resulted.
hom he h,
oped to obtain guished financial [authority
w
Exchequer is, it is understaodaa his colleague in the
up for, that anxious and , unwilling to give
present honours and ensolumenus as the head
precaious post his
of one of the first eornine
537 arranging the names
°total :houses in • the
world. Rumour has been b
the new Cabinet, and alies
Northumberland at the Admiralty, and Lord Malmes-
laced the Duke of
bury at the Foreign- office, besides the obvious legal ap-
pointments. A few hours, however
whole Cabinet, which is already formed., will give us the
will present the list to her Majesty Lord Derby
afternoon, and kiss hands on his aat half-past two this
Thus three days, including a Saturday
to office.
will settle the question, by handing ay and a Sunday,
from a Whig to a Conservative Cabinet.
neover the country
weeks since her Majesty opened the t• It is not three
was rather more anxiety than usual to know
and there
work of that session was to be. Besides"now what the
express pledges were approaching maturity, that several
decided accumulation of arrears, and also ItY, there was a
common character. The address from thei crisis of no
the Ministerial announcements came in Throne and
and, though criticized, were received with
succession
Legislature soon rushed in inediasres respect The
'
, and till f •
since we were deep in Chancery and mie a few hours
served meats and ventilation ; in boroughs ‘tise in pre-
of all sorts and qualifications. That is ti and electors
the merest touch of his wand a celebratedP"t' With
quin has changed the whole scene, and, in hark-
bakers and butchers, contractors, and paria•tead of cheap
lame
formers, we find ourselves in green fields a ntary re-
with sturdy yeomen and hobnailed labourers farmyards,
on the scene, as if they had always been tails once more
old original harlequin has been snubbed fo ere. If the
he has his revenge in the freaks of our statesmen
his politics,
the pantomimic changes of St. Stephen'e.atesmen and
if that be a result which is nothing at all, i The result,
a false start, the session begins again. It ? that, after
the Queen's Speech,' but Lord Derby's, till no longer
gaping fur. How will he open Parliament?" Butwe are
let us inter the dead with decent solemnity, nn, first
There have
descended to the tomb of all the Capulete th:11
form Bill, the impending Kafir debate, and half new Re-
a dozen
other Ministerial encumbrances. What a vast amount
of research, what cleverness, what stationery,
dered wottbless in a moment he, the little; is
ren-
dered of
Friday ! Here are the Sunday papers,
clever leaders on the topics of the Week, full of
all now
out of date. Besides heaps of letters, besides
remou-
stranees of boroughs untqually yoked, and
" illustrations" of the new Reform Bill; —.b,,57 own
Wyld's borough map of England, there lies beforie us es
Mn
the
prettiest blue book that ever was Printed at the
eta
file nation, with maps of every county, and therl'" of
e the
boundaries of every borough' and the change be
made. All these, with the valuable lucubration to
the country papers on the same subject, are nows
waste
Paper. Nobody who thinks five minutes worth rescui
from time will read one line of them. The
thoroughly 'gone to the bottom as the
Amazon. The Cape questiore it is true, is so easily
ng
contents
not 8 of the
set at rest. The Kafirs will go on fighting, and are as
we shall
go on Paying, and every now and then Lord Grey will
be
evil spoken against; but he can no longer be called to
account for the mischief. After a change of servants

FEBRUARY 23,

1852.

everybody knows that it is useless to ask why so easiest and most decisive victory from the mo-
little remains ef that china dinner service, and a change meat that Lord Palmerston casually placed him-
of Ministers equally cuts the thread of official responsi- self at their head ; and his position as teller of
bility. A single fortnight of Lord Derby would de- the votes on the division of Friday night connects his
stroy the identity of the past and any future Russell name with those of men long opposed to his own. From
Administration, as the return to office of the very , such a casual service to a nearer connexion the transi-
same men would whitewash the blackest political I tion is neither long nor impracticable, and though die-
insolvency. Lathe flows over twenty embryo debates. claimed at present, we shall not be surprised to see it
Except, perhaps, for a philosophic censor, like Sir Wil- effected hereafter. Upon the future course of events we
Liam Molesworth, whose criticisms attach equally to the I do not speculate here, but the lesson of the past is already
Colonial-office past, present, and future. operations of legible and distinct. Lord John Russell's Administra-
attack and defence are now equally obsolete. The I.tion has come to an end from causes which were clearly
scene is changed, the actors are in new parts; it is a new ascertained beforehand, and which might, in our judg-
drama that is about to be performed. So, bidding good- meat, have been counteracted or suspended; for it is not
by to the past, we may now ask, what will Lord Derby the principles of the late Government which have lost
do?
Of edurse, there is a good deal which he may their weight and. ascendancy in the country, bat, with
safely leave alone.. It is not to be expected that he two or three exceptions, the men who, composed it.
should take up Lord John's Reform Bill, or that he Those principles will doubtless continue to moderate the
should have one of his own in his pocket. He has a policy even of their opponents, and will ultimately bring
right to at least a year's law on that
subject. As the back to power a party more worthy to represent them;
Committee on the Income-tax has not even reported, he for we hope that party will not be framed on the narrow
may ;reasonably be allowed a year more of the In and exclusive basis of Whig traditions, but that it will
come-tax. Law reform will probably be as safe in embrace and consolidate in Opposition the most active
the hands of Sir Edward Sugden as in those and intelligent political servants of the country.
to which it has been hitherto committed. As CHRONICLE.—Lord Derby has had an audience of
for the Cape troubles, though Lord Derby her Majesty, and has undertaken the formation of a Ca-
himself
is by no .means blameless of them, he will pro- binet. This will occasion no surprise, as it has long been •
, pose the necessary
_change of policy ,more gracefully evident that some new Ministerial combination must be
than Lord Grey. On a review of all the questions as effected. The similarity which at first sight appears to
yet before Parliament there is only-one which. threatens exist between the present Ministerial resignation and the 1
any immediate difficulty to a Derby Administration, crisis of 1851 is only superficial and casual. On both
and that is the very difficulty which has brought him occasions Lord John Russell threw up office suddenly,
into power. Should Louis Napoleon give further proof after a defeat, in a thin House,
of a dangerous ambition, that would compel on the importance. • On both occasions,on a point of secondary
also, the manner of re-
country a more available description 'of force than Lord signation indicated a mix'ure of pique and of manage-
J. Russell has ventured to propose, and would therefore merit on the part of the Premier. But last year it was
y preparations,
justify Friday's vote. In the absence of that Deus ex his object to anticipate Lord Derb 's
machina, Lord Derby will have to devise some measure and to satisfy the Crown, the country, and the mat.:
which will reconcile conflicting opinions, and, in the content adherents of his own party that no other
spirit of Lord Palmerston's amendment, will probably combination than the old Whig league could, at the
have to start rather from the idea of a general than a moment, conduct the Administration. The scheme so
local militia. Should his ,plan present no very sub- far succeeded that it led to the recall of the ex-Minis-
stantial difference from the confessedly hybrid measure ters, and to the exposure of Lord Derby's intrinsic
of the late Ministers, they will be bound to give it weakness; but it failed altogether in rallying the Liberal
that general and patriotic support which they ex- majority of the House of Commons round their former
petted themselves from their usual opponents; leader. The second resignation might be thought
and we can hardly suppose that any difference on mere equally insincere, if the causes which led to it had been
working details will be allowed to interfere with a great less obvious and substantial than they are. A return to
measure of national defence. On this point, therefore, office, at the present moment, would not shelter Lord
though the difficulty is specific and immediate, we do Grey froin censure; nor would it make the new scheme
not see why it should be insuperable. Unless the House for enfranchising rotten boroughs popular or tenable.
of Commons is so far bent on the ruin of the State, or There was an evident convenience in resigning on a
at least, is so wholly indifferent to its wellbeing, point which few have troubled themselves to understand,
as to have resolved against any possible Administra- and in which no important principle was involved; and
tion, it certainly is bound to give a fair chance to Lord a falling Ministry seldom waits for defeat on a vital
Derby arid' the men of whom his Cabinet will probably question. There can be little doubt that the withdrawal
be composed. The strange in and out work of the last of Lord John Russell from office is, for the present, defi-
two sessions has already done mischief enough, and by nito and final. Under the circumstances, general appre-
this time no sensible person can suppose the late Ca- hension at once pointed to Lord Derby as his successor;
binet to be the only body of statesmen capable and although some may have thought that a Go-
of :governing this country. There must be some- vernment !might have been formed from the ample
where a possible Government, unless we are on the elements presented by the various sections of the Liberal
high road to anarchy, and that possible Government party, there has been a prevalent disposition to acquiesce
may be once more found, as it has been before, in in the postponement of that inevitable event. The Pro-
the remains of the Conservative party. As wo will not tectionists and their organs are naturally expressing the
anticipate the verdict either of the House of Commons exultation which they partially feel, and the confidence
or of the country at large on the Government now formed, which they would willingly assume. Even their oppo-
so we will content ourselves with a mere passing glance nents are for the most part inclined to accept the result
at the difficulties presented by its political opinions. for the sake of the remoter consequences with which it
Lord Derby does not enter office by vista() of those opi- is fraught; for they know that, however undesirable
nions, or on any question connected with them. He is and dangerous, it can only be temporary, whilst they
raised to his present position, as Lord John Russell was anticipate from it such a cordial union of the whole
raised to his, by the dissensions of the opposite party, Liberal party as will ensure the formation, at no dis-
brought out on a question not so much of opinion as of taut date, of a strong, progressive, and efficient Govern-
confidence. There is, then, no need why Lord Derby ment. With the errors of weakness and selfishness-
should at once attach to his Administration a character which have brought matters to their present crisis it
which it does not derive from its origin, or import were at present useless to deal. Their causes and
pledges from which, as a whole, it is free. As it is quite their effects may both be summed up in the pro-
clear that little can be done this session, position that the Government has been thoroughly
or with the existing Parliament, so it would and ruinously weak. Yet it is to be replaced by
be madness to provoke an early doom by renewing pro- an Administration which must be weaker still, and
fessions which are neither recent in date nor capable of which the country only accepts because there is not the
an early fulfilment. On the other hand, it would be smallest danger of its permanence. Both in Parliament
thoroughly gratuitous and unfair to force, or attempt to and out of it Lord Derby will be weaker than any pre-
force,
on Lord Derby a more explicit and positive devious Minister of the present generation. Since his
claration of his financial policy than the actual necessi- public confession, this time last year, of inability to form
ties of the nation may require. If we demand a for- a Cabinet, what additional strength has he acquired?
bearing policy from the opponents of the new Govern- Half a dozen votes may have accrued to his cause as the
ment, much more may we expect it from its friends. result of isolated elections—to be set off against a
Such of the new Ministers as are in the Lower House twelvemonth's additional experience of the triumphant
will have to present themselves to their constituencies, success of that free-trade policy which he is irrevocably
and, unless the agriculturists really are as infatuated as pledged to reverse. Even agricultural distress, the main
their libellers represent, they will not press for any ex- resource of the Protectionist party, has already almost
press pledges on the subject of protection, particularly disappeared. The importations of foreign corn have
as all the more judicious of the party, after the expert- diminished, and prices have advanced; barley and oats
once of six years, are content to stand by the verdict of bring remunerating prices; the cattle fairs are cleared
a general election, before mid-day; and, above all, the lapse of time has
The event which so abruptly terminated the exist- enabled farmers to adjust their arrangements to the
mace of the late Administration had not only been long change of circumstances, and has carried them almost
foreseen, but it had been distintly shown for many beyond the state of transition. There is now more
months, past to be the certain and inevitable result of dissatisfaction among landowners than among te-
the course to which Lord John Russell adhered. On nants; and even where it is strongest, it is no
Friday, February 21, 1851, the First Minister threw up longer unmingled with hope. At the most, the cry of
the Government with as little hesitation as he exhibited distress would have been useless when it only expressed
on Friday, the 20th of February, 18§2 ; but though a an unreasoning desire for an unjust and impracticable
twelvemonth elapsed between these two events, the exs mode of relief; but, whatever force it might have given
istence of the Cabinet in the interval was precarious and to those who undertook to be its organs, that force was
unreal, and the delay has proved chiefly advantageous to at its maximum when Lord Derby acknowledged his in-
those who may now succeed it in power. Unhappily for capacity to form an Administration which could main-
the party which Lord John Russell has so long led, and taro itself. Nor are the personal resources of the party
for the political interests of which he was thus consti- increased. Last year the want of official experience
tuted the chief defender, the lesson which the former of among its more prominent members was, as their leader
these occurrences might have afforded him was turned declared, fatal to his prospects; and the same difficulty,
to no account. The more the spirit of the nation and exists at this moment—and at least to the same extent—
the exigency of the times required breadth and boldness although Lord Derby may at least be willing to over-,
in the policy of our rulers, the more Lord John Russell look it. Tho Premier of the new Government is a
wrapped himself in the tightened folds of his persuasion, powerful speaker, experienced in office, but singularly
until his power of serving the country was narrowed to deficient in businesslike capacity, whilst he has been re-;
the resources of a coterie. lie was brought back to rearkable, throughout his career, neither for discretion,
office last year by the failure of his opponents; but he nor for success. The law offices may be filled by'
camera back with no vigorous determination .- to re- creditable occupants; but it is scarcely too much to say,
mould the elements out of which a mote liberal that the remaining and more important offices might as,
Administration might have been formed. Nevertheless, well be distributed at once pretty much ati
so few:ired was the head of the late Government by cir- random. Yet, however, Lord Derby may dist
cumstances independent of his own will, , that after the tribute his patronage, he cannot avoid the
failure of his opponents had again placed ,the direetien unwelcome prominence of an ally whom he has openly
of affairs in his hands; the country submitted to pass a distrusted and slighted. No conventional arrangement
year under little more than the semblance of a Ministry, can prevent mr. Disraeli from leading the party in the
with provisional finances, hypothetical measures of House of Commons: Indiscreet as he may be thought
reform, and many infirm or superannuated states- and utterly insincere as may be his sympathy with the
men. In such a condition the only act of prejudices of the party to which he has attached himself,
vigour which Lord John Russell performed he alone among the Protectionists possesses abilities be-
was likely to cost him dear, unless he found send the humblest-mediocrity; and the House, though
means to follow up the removal of Lord Palmers. remarkably tolerant of commonplace in the common
ton by the introduction of new elements into his Cabi- rank and file, still requires in its chiefs some trace of
net, or by a complete reconstruction of his Administra- superior intellect. Some " large-acred" squires may
a.
Lion. It was in no hostile spirit that these • necessary possibly be disguieed for time as Ministers; but no
changes were strongly urged upon the,First Minister for magic can transform into Parliamentary leaders. Yet a
Treasury Bench constituted of little better materials will
several weeks before the meeting of Parliament; for the
adoption of them was the only count() which could have have to face an Opposition including every orator
averted the catastrophe which has now occurred. A but one, and, without an exception, every states-
few weeks would show, we then observed, whether Lord man and every man of business in the House. So
feeble a staff could not conduct a Parliamentary came John Russell was really ono of those men of mark
who have gloriously governed the British Empire, Paigiit even with the aid of such a majority as that
or whether he was to be judged as a mere Parliamen- which Lord Althorp wielded after the Reform Bill.
tary tactician. Yet even his Parliamentary tactics And what are Lord Derby's forces? A moderately
have not been successful. With the certainty of large minority in the Lower House, and a useless ma-
an early defeat staring him in the face—with the jority in the Upper. Before a dissolution can take place
fresh animosity of Lord Palmerston burning far revenge ho must probably undergo more than one damaging de-
-the steady opposition of the Protectionist party eager feat. Questions will be raised for the purpose of bringing
for office—and the decreasing confidence.of the country, his policy to a test, and of forcing him either to avow,
nothing could be more injurious to those liberal inter- or publicly to renounce, the intentions which his sup-
eats which are dear in the main to a large majority of porters attribute to him. With a new election before
the people of England than the inert fatalism or spathe- his eyes, he has obviously no alternative but to adopt the
tic courage of their chief. An attempt was made to ob. bolder, the more consistent, and the more dangerous
taro the co-operation of some of the adherents of the course. He has often trifled with Protection, and en-
late Sir Robert Peel. But these proposals were so faint deavoured to escape from it, but he can appeal to the
hustings on no other ground. In fact, to abandon Prot
and indefinite that they offered no attraction and no
means of usefulness to men of spirit, character, and section, to shelve it, or to treat it as a secondary question
ability, Lord John Russell, unable to increase the which may be postponed for the convenience of party,
_ would be to acknowledge that his whole course of
_aedttoen.
strength of his Government, seemed intent only on in
creasing its duties and its burdens. He met Parliament since 1846 had been one sustained, continuous,
rdo!!_e_,
rate deception—that he has been virtually eko-operating,
iiniciT.
with no recruits in his army, but with measures which
it would have required the whole strength of a powerful in the meanest spirit of faction, with a woe
Minister to carry. To carry a Reform Bill and to re- Pablo Government, to throw the business oft
legislation
form the Court of Chancery were hot tasks for a into confusion, and to make all useful
played
Government which had repeatedly failed in much impossible—and that he
and cheated
sYs the credulity,
humbler undertakings. Accordingly Lord John had upon the prejudices, an
attempt on Lord Derby's
of his own followers.
no sooner laid his Bills on the table than his
Any
question--the only question
part to palter with thist? thes country
wonted resolution appears to have forsaken him.
He had, indeed, the encouragement of more than ordi-
tconduct as a stupendous " or at
which gives him the slightest
once stigmatise 11,is pas
nary success on the two personal discussions which have
and mark his future career as an
nized hypocrisy,'
Ici claim to office—would at
taken' place.. His triumph was complete on the first
night of the session in his vindication of the dismissal ofnation is finally made up. To
a moment's un-
enormouths living. ife.the Yet on this point, as he well
be maintained were but a feeble
the Foreign Secretary; and the admirable speech he de- knows,
livered in defence of Lord Clarendon the very nightthat freeemtinradoomust
which preceded his fall will be remembered by those who sayexpression of the firm conviction and the unalterable
regarded will depend on the uni-
heard it as one of the most spirited and effective of his determination of the country. It must not even be ren-
oratorical efforts. The Militia Bill had hardly been
certainty. The passive toleration with which the new
reckoned amongst the difficulties of the Cabinet, for the dared an open question, nor exposed to
ricni
atlhpeo meantime,o
willnot, per
general necessity of some suet' measure was all but
versal assurance that it is as incapable of car n
ry in out
Administration will be
unanimously admitted, and, with the exception of some its own principles as it is unable to retract or modif
details, it appeared to have been concurred in by the
them without incurring political infamy. It ia not y
House. No preparations were made to meet a hostile ffiancidendtelyrerfoepmmemeobteorefdeotmhmate,
division on that occasion. The asperity of Lord Palmers- "
' ton's 'speech took the Treasury bench hy surprise, yet a stand-still. We have long been accustomedy
Members usually devoted to the Government continued or nothing done, but it will to see little
a."clavpasncsue
be a stn
n downward not
to leave the House, and returned to it only to learn that
to have even a promise or hope of im
r.-
the Administration had ceased* to exist. That sail are the prospects of a Government Wphiovbement. Such
hour suddenly brought to Lord John Russell
ma deem endurable because it • which the the country
burden carries in itself the
;an opportunity to free himself from a
he could ill sustain—to Lord Palmerston a triumphteir a brief, though, we fear, a '
ion and because, after
Over a colleague who had dissolved h
ud nn- it must leave the ground clear stormyl and baneful existence,
,connexion—to the Tory Opposition an easy a
whether and united Liberal Admistration or a strong, powerful,
looked-for victory. It must remain uncertainhve ended point out an egress from the .It is not for us to
the expected debate on the Kafir war would ft
Ministry on necessities in which the nation hlabyrinth of conventional
in a defeat, and we suspect the danger of the
and justly itself. But in the meanwhile has for the moment lost
That occasion was overrated, however severely ,
t_ed whatever public advantage we must labour to secured
been conaemn • may incidentally be derive
the policy of Lord Grey might have
to face a co- from an untoward combi • stances. The
But it was less hard for Lord John Russell
s onsibilitios first result to be atta* nation
of
eiretimpolitical
lonial 'debate than to bear the increasing Is_
e rfereform which and commercial pro tamed is, that all friends of
e.,,
k The
of his position, aggravated by
. a scheme of
He country demands a gstress must " close theirran •of
all
no single party in the nation accepted
jumped from the its leading tong Government,
becomposedno
doubt that,
accordingly ran the vessel ashore an
Palmerston w • ill after some statesmen, and there cant
art Lord waste of time, and perhaps some tor-
helm. We know not what pa.midable
would redound b t
for it uagitation, the national desire will at last
claim in this sudden evolution,
arsenal resentment be realised.lte • in the improbable
or o will only add that
little to his fame if, from motives of p
his
turned upon former col-event of Lord Derby's eventually declining to assume
or more vengeance, be had .
andhurried
rtunity,
leagues at the very first opy
°I
effect is to place P a rotee. of the leading supporters of Free-trade will refuse the
division, of which the practice The , .
Ike- relative Illetitß Crown that assistance which may be required of them,
tionist Government in 0 . .
organizing the national mi- There may be difficulties and party embarrassments in
of two schemes for
d by two men who lately abundance; but it would plainly be their duty to tiy,
lilts, brought forwar ,
in the ' ' same ca_ ! and ample materials exist at this moment for the forma-
discussed this very measure
mac to account for so keen , Lien of a Liberal Administration which would eommtnd
binet, will not su
striking I
so a result. Nor had the confidence of the country. It is by no means
a difference and
that experiment would fail, even for the cirta
a
sin two months r rooniet;
it escaped us, in discus
togo,c
4. ago the con;:©_ I she
-after a gallant
of Lord Palmerston , separation from the caht. and even failure struggle would infa!nbly
quences of future s . t
s not to the side of the extreme rote the harbinger ucce..s.
Liberal P net, that it wa
ofthe 'll • NE W S —Lord Derby
but to the advantage
party,
his hostility would •f Prove- . the Queen to form a Protectieeist Administration:
- A
tionists, 'that his , 1 openly manifested .
That event has no Cabinet of' anyother character it •
.
w taken place, end Lord be turned. T
d the , form, nor would it be in his will. No of political
man Palmerston has opeue.,
th gates to the party which
w" i mark or station who is sincerely to free trade
then designated as e common enemy." But the i les could with honour attached • office
service he has rendered to one aide is scarcely inferior ! princ p. 'accept confidential
• under his Lordship. The man who broke with his col-
to that for which the other must be - grateful ; and i l in the G
es
1846, because he could
Lord John Russell was probably as ready to escape I nee conscientiously - °-bread, and who
from an untenable position, as Lord Derby is to no- I o a fire surrender the tax on
of free
after e years' experience of the working
.free
not the arduous duty imposed on h' It will 1
1851, that if ap-
cep lin. I trade, told her Majesty in February,
not be forgotten, however, that the Protectionist
he H
party in the
,House °llse of Commons, won their I pointed Prime Minister he would endeavour to impose a

S tr

~~

rim
f Yu'y\_
.. ~°
~~~.~~~ I

/ eeftereV
fixed duty on corn, is not likely to waver in his fidelity-
to the question which, above all others, has knit together
the sympathies of the party whom he leads. But had a'et tat
it been supposed possible, a recent incident has served to
quench all doubt. At the meeting of his adherents, held
a few days since, to consider and decide upon the course
to be pursued by them in Parliament during the present
session, a Noble Lord who occupies a prominent
position in the Upper House put to their chief
the pointed question whether, in the event of
his coming into power, Lord Derby was
prepared to redeem the pledge he had deliberately given
last year of attempting to renew the tax on food ? And
the unhesitating answer of the straightforward champion
of the landed oligarchy was an explicit confirmation
and reiteration of that pledge. 'At the same conference
it is equally well known that the resolution was taken to
oppose the second reading of the proposed Reform Bill,
not with the view of outbidding it by another, bat
avowedly on the ground that any democratic concession
would destroy the last lingering hope of a return to
Toryism.We know, therefore, at starting the-funda-
mental principles on which the new Administration is to
based. They are, in a word, resistance to reform,
and a return to sfrotection. It is undoubtedly Lord
Palmerston whom, the Preeectionists have to thank for
placing them in cffice. By themselves they have been
trying hard long enough, but never successfully,. to over •
throw their Whig rivals.
But never in pitched battle
during six yearning years were they
able ti_ seize the
citadel. The overturn which' happened this gine twelve-
month was attributable to the alienation. pf • sup-
porters rather than the strength of the assailing force.
But now, under the skilful and unscrupulous guidance
of an unlooked-for leader, the reactionists have stormed
the heights of office. The banner planted on the sum-
mit is the old bread-tax flag; but, the hand by whom it
has been planted there ie the hand of Palmerston. Why
not, then, deck his brow with the appropriate crown?
Who so fitted by natural leanings and acquired accom-
plishments to head the landlords of England? Lavish
in his notions of expenditure, a thorough aristocrat in
temperament, and the hero of the military clubs, Lord
Palmerston could do for the new Administration in the
present House of Commons what few other partisan
' chiefs now living could do. The thing to be done is the
greatest possible amount of mischief to the friends of
peace, economy, and reform; who, for that purpose, so
capable—if willing—as the ex-oolleague of Lord John
Russell? Of Lord Palmerston's willingness we say
nothing. That remains to be proved. Previous to the
division on last Friday night, we own we should have
hesitated to utter any misgivings we may have felt as to
his stability of purpose, where great principles and the
maintenance of a great policy were at stake. But
after the performance on that occasion, the faith of
.
every liberal man in the country can scarcely be
staggered—and we await with more curiosity than con-
fidence the Noble Viscount's next political- exploit.
Lord Derby also may have his mistrust;—and for rea-
sons that, we need not here enumerate, may fancy it un-
safe to take such a magazine of combustibles on board.
Very prudent, perhaps ; but what will happen, sup-
posing the said magazine should fall into other hands?
Then there is claim on gratitude No, 2, in the per-
son of the (about to be Right Hon.) MeMber for
Bucks. If the avenging Viscount consented to ride as
jockey, and jumped " protection" over the
sdouble-
fence wherewith office is circled round about;'egually
undoubted is it that Disraeli trained the inarticu-
late animal successfully, when every other hand had
failed. Lord Derby can scarcely this time pass over
the man who has rendered him such inestimable ser-
vice. Last year he did not scruple to disown his
useful follower, and even publicly to sneer at his own
official destitution in having no men fit for
high administrative post—though Mr. Disraeli stood by
listening to the selfish and supercilious disclaimer. This
audacious prank of highborn affectation cannot be re-
peated now? There was a story current that the
Member for Bucks wished it to be understood that he •
was ready to play the magnanimous, and that he did not
wish any personal consideration on his account to stand
in the way of the formation of whatever might be
thought the strongest possible Tory Government. If
this was only meant gracefully to yield the leadership in
the Commons to Lord Palmerston, it would be suffici-
ently intelligible; but such self-sacrifice seems little
likely to be needed. Mr. Disraeli may well assert what
is due to his position from the chief whom he has con-
tributed so potentially to thrust into power. Until the
official announcement of the new appointments shall be
made, any attempt to analyse them as a whole would be
premature. The list of those said to be the New
Ministry will be found in another column. We shall
doubtless have not long to wait for the authoritative
promulgation of Lord Derby's own cast of parts—and
we shell then be ready to examine in detail their various
pretensions.

TO THE SECRETARY OF THE BRADFORD
REFORM ASSOCIATION.
(PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY.)
Sir,—On Wednesday the 18th the House was prin-
cipally engaged on Public Houses in Scotland.
On the 19th it was occupied by the charge brought
against the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, on the subject
of his employment of the Irish press. The simple fact
is, that the Lord-Lieutenant, acting it is presumable on
imperfect knowledge and leaving the management to
subordinates, got entangled with an individual of that
kind which ever and anon are heard of in the courts of
law, who ask for money as the condition of withholding
what they call " exposures;"—that is to say,, bring-
ing forward business transactions, which may have been
described in confidential letters in terms not exactly in-
tended to meet the public eye. There is no man who
ever was engaged, for instance, in an election, who can-
not frame to himself a perfect conception of the case.
In brief toms, the charge was naught; and as such was
golfigthh thanking
his s d
n
defeated by a vote of 229 to 137.
On Friday took place events which shake the condi-
tion of England, in a way which would cause terror if
it was but known that such things often shake them-
selves down again. On the introduction of the Govern-
ment's Militia Bill, Lord Palmerston moved the omis-
sion of the, word " Local;" which was carried by 136
against 125. It does not appear why anybody should hal e
seen more in this, than an expression on the part of the
popular branch, that it wants more defence instead of less,
and that it had rather trust itself to a regular Militia
under the old statutes, than to a Local:Militia, of.whieh
the character was given, that in the old war nobody ever
knew where it was. And it has strongly the air of iil
humour in a Government of grown mean that there
should be talk of throwing up the reins of Government,
because the country wants more militia than the Go-
vernmentpressureroposeo. f the ealad
his stars for being delivered from this thraldom, is
tho Minister 'to pout in a corner? There is something
ar
haduer ventured the
to propose.
ludicrous in a Ministry going out, martyrs to a local
come forward with a smiling
wants more defence; all that was
Militia. It is conceivable how a Government may re-
sign for getting too little, but this is the first time it
was ever done for getting too much. The House of
face and say it should have it. If the reign of High
Tory principles and Protection
wantedthis
France;itonthsersestYosre,it was to
will be
announced that the English i
Government s aux ,Lois
and every drum-boy will be st
agog for the ein e
thousand francs which are kept for him in L
this goes on, the Government after°l"ri* if
all,
crushed by the English Bonapartist,. will have been
sometimes gives good counsels. But a pillow
What the country will expect,
foiled in its expectations it is this, and if it is
wise than was looked for • will call some people lees
Noble Lords who have '—"
Rill
expect that the two
tion should now the beenseparated by
an indiscre-
has 'been in fact redeemedindiscretion is past and gone, and
the two in the 4 taking the bolder lead of
give up their direction where former doubt was raised,
and be friends. iiquarrel, and like two good children, kiss
be the wisest boy. e that does most towards, this shall
Some •
fallacies were '
given into by the Government
and its euppoet
talked about ers. For example, they perpetually
"a state of peace;" the question being
whether we might not be startled in our beds some
morning like the Alger. me generals, by finding ourselves
at war, and a hostile force in some very undesirable
place as prout. Much also was said about a regular
militia being "an aggressive force." In this sense a
policeman is "an aggressive force;" for by keeping
things quiet
at home, ho may enable an army to go
abroad.
Half the game of life is what men call chance; mean-
ieg thereby what human care can neither foresee nor
alter. Theologians call it Providence, in which they pre-
sumably are right; and in the hands of that, we are.
There are not wanting those who talk of another rea-
son for the Government's wishing to withdraw;—to
avoid the question of the three millions spent in the
Kafir war. This would be what the ring calls, falling
to prevent being bit. But there was no necessity for
such a desperate course; there was balm in Gilead even
fear this. All that was wanted was to sieve out the
insane element. There is evidence of a political Mrs.
Cumming. Men who throw away the value of forty
sail-of-the-line upon the coast of Kafraria, and then
publish that " the Britisfrerown iiadeiiition have no in-
terest in maintaining any territorial dominion in
Southern Africa beyond the very limited extant of ter-
ritory required for the security of the Cape of Good
Hope as a naval station," are not men who ought to
walk the streets by themselves, still less implicate men
of sound mind in their proceedings. They must be
sieved out, and quickly; and then the old firm may go
on. What would be thought of a Manchester merchant,
who spent 300,0001. on unprofitable buildings, and then
said he never wanted anything but a counting-house to
put his books in? His partners would get rid of him,
us the London bankers did of the partner who stood up
to preach the New Jerusalem at Charing-Cross. The
" indispensable" men cannot be allowed to do above a
certain amount of mischief. The course here is plain.
Drop the insane element, and put the Noble Lord below
the ,„gasy into the place; and then the ship may go
ahead again.

I am, Sir, yours very Eiteerely,
AN OLD REFORMER.
Blackheath, 23 Feb. 1852.

The Queen has been plEttEed to direct that the
Knighthood should be conferred upon Dr. Charles
N
Speaker of the Legislative Council of New South
W ales. Mr. Cosmo limes, advocate, Sheriff of the Shire of
Elgin or Moray, is appointed Clerk to the High Court of
Session at Edinburgh; Mr. R. Bell, advocate, is appoinfe I
Sheriff of Elgin or Moray, in the room
of Mr. Innes.
Fredericlo Madge, Esq., has been
appointed First Clerk in
the office of the Solicitor to the Treasury, in the room of Mr.
Raven, who retires. Air. John .Palmer is appointed Trea-
surerhoinehototir so of
n,
of the island of Dominica. Mr. N. Robson is appointed
Collector of Customs at the Gambia.—Sunday Paper.
DEATH OF A COUNTY: ,CORONER.—DanieI Geran,
Esq., one of the coroners of this county, died after a short
illness on Thursday last, at his residence, Rushmount. Se-
veral candidates for the office are spoken of. Cork Con.
slitution.