The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-28 00:00:00

pies which were the guiding lights of Lord PALMEBB•
TON'S administration. For the reasons we have here
particularised, therefore, we are disposed to regard
with peculiar satisfaction the speech delivered yester-
day by the First Lord of the Treasury—assuring us,
as it does, that at any rate for the interregnum now
absolutely requisite, under the circumstances, the
Derby-Disraeli Cabinet will act as becomes the
m embers of an enlightened and patriotic Govern-
ment.

The curtain has fallen on the first act of the
Ministerial drama. The new PREMIEN has completed
his arrangements. The Cabinet is formed—its mem-
bers have received the seals of their respective offices,
which had been previously surrendered by their pre-
decessors, and new writs have been ordered to issue
for the election of Members for the several constitu-
encies formerly represented by those of the recent
appointees who belonged to the Commons House of
Parliament. So far all went on in the ordinary
course. No important explanations could be
offered, no authentic information revealed, until the
Ministers of the Crown resumed their places in the
popular branch of the Legislature. And the public
business and the public curiosity should alike remain
suspended until the termination of the different
elections, more especially of that for Buckingham-
shire, when the creator, the organizer, and the leader
of the existing Government, will make the state-
ment that could not properly be put forward by any
other Commoner in the country.

It was, however, otherwise, in the House of Peers.
The First Lord of the Treasury and nominal head
of the Government was naturally expected to offer
some indications of the line of policy which he him-
self and his colleagues were inclined to pursue. It
was not, of course, for a moment anticipated that the
Noble Earl would enter into details. All that could
reasonably be hoped for, was that he would sketch a
bold outline to be subsequently filled up in its various
parts—that he would declare whether or not
there was to be an immediate, or even a
speedy dissolution so ' soon as the formal busi-
ness of the session had been gone through,
or whether he would introduce any and what ques-
tions of interest and imp ortance for the considera-
tion of the present House of Commons. But the
most intense anxiety was felt with respect to the
class of measures which have given a name to his
party, and banded together the agriculturists in an
organized body to seek the re-imposition of a bread
tax, or, in other words, to compel the remainder of
her MAJESTTIS subjects to pay a black mail
or tribute to themselves. There was also
a strong feeling in reference to the pro-
positions fur legal and social amelioration,
whether the session would be consumed without any
further progress being attained on these matters. On
these different points the Noble Earl spoke clearly
and explicitly. Within the present week we ex-
pressed our " thorough conviction that until after the
dissolutio n a corn-law would not even be brought
under the notice of Parliament." That anticipation
has already been realizsd, and we now believe that it
will never come before the Legislature ; for the PRE-
MIER, while frankly and explicitly avowing his own
predilections and individual views, declared that
" the question could only be satisfactorily solved
by reference to the well understood and clearly ex-
pressed opinion of the intelligent portion of the com-
munity." As we have not the slightest doubt as to
what the effect of that opinion will be, we rest tran-
quil and undisturbed on the subject. We are ready
to take up arms whenever there shall be any aggres-
sion, but we do not think it necessary to provoke a
conflict. We have, however, spoken so fully on the
foreign policy, and also on that relating to the corn
duties in a former part of our impression, that we
shall pass on to the subjects on which we may expect
legislation during the present session, and with the
existing House of Commons.

The Noble Earl declared bis belief that " if avoid-
ing all unnecessary party measures, the Ministry ap-
plied themselves to those great measures the country
has so long been expecting—measures of legal reform,
for improving and simplifying the administration of
law and justice, and measures of social reform, for
improving the condition and comforts of the people
—that, even with a minority in the House of Com-
mons, they should not be uselessly or dishonourably
conducting the affairs of the country." We concur
in the opinion. Let the propositions alluded
to by the Noble Earl be fairly brought for-
ward and calmly considered, without bias or
prejudice. If good, we shall lend them a disinterested
support, without reference to the quarter from whence
they have emanated. On Thursday we declared that
"so long as the questions of ' Protection' and the re-
imposition of taxes on human food remain in abey-
ance we were by no means indisposed to give a fair
trial to the present Government." These questions
have since been placed in abeyance, and until their
revival we shall fairly and impartially weigh every
suggestion, deciding on its own intrinsic merits, and
offering no factious opposition.

We are assured that the LORD CHANCELLOR Will lose
no time in applying his powerful mind to the con-
sideration of the subject and the promotion of reforms
recommended by the Commission. That in itself is a
pleasing announcement; but we know little of the
LORD CHANCELLOR, if, when once he has got scent of
a grievance, he do not follow it to the uttermost, and,
if possible, extirpate it root and branch. He will
not be contented with trivial changes, merely pruning
the noxious weed so as for a time to induce the notion
that it had been greatly reduced in magnitude, but
only that it might after a brief period again flourish
in rank luxuriance. From the statement we
believe that we shall find that not only every judi-
cious recommendation of the Commissioners will be
carried into operation, but that other and more ex-
tensive ameliorations will also be brought forward of
a nature eminently beneficial to the suitors, and, by a
necessary consequence, to the community in general.
The Noble Earl declares that amoegst the mea-
sures of social improvement he does not include one
recently introduced by his predecessor for the extee-
sion of the franchise. He has, however, promised
that if the existence of any substantial grievance be
shown or proved, the Ministry will be ready to
endeavour to meet those grievances, if they can see
that a remedy could be effectively applied without
involving future danger to the safety of the Constitu-
tion and the internal peace of the country. Ba it so.
Not one, but many grievances, and those of the
most serious character, have been established beyond
the possibility of doubt or contradiction. The
case for relief has been clearly made out.
We do not press for an immediate solution
of the problem, but the Noble Earl must
be well aware that Parliamentary reform is
one of the necessities of the period, and that no party
can remain in power who are opposed to the reason-
able wishes of the people in these respects. We are
willing to give him a reasonable time to make up his
mind, but there must not be too much procrastination,
or " the reference to the well understood and clearly
expressed opinion of the intelligent portion
of the community " will but too clearly con-
vince him of his mistake. Of this he may rest
assured, that no measure of Parliamentary
reform will prove satisfactory which does
not comprise a large extension of the franchise, a
shortening of the duration of Parliament, a total
abolition of the property qualification for Members,
a more equitable distribution of electoral power, but,
above all and beyond all, " the ballot," the only
means of affording protection to the voter, and pre-
venting the bribery, corruption, and intimidation that
has but too frequently been resorted to at contested
elections.

MOTET ORDERS.—On and after the let March
the receiving office for letters at Brixton will lee opened for
the issue and payment of money orders. Minor money order
ce
offices -will be opened at Ilorley, Surrey, on the Bth March,
and Seaford, Sussex, on the 10th March.
DEATII OT THE POET MOMIE.—We stop the press
to announce the death of Thomas Moore, Es(' , the highly
gifted and talented poet. The sad event took place at his
rei, . l.
.o. Sloperton Cottage, 1;A (Wednesday) evening.—
Devizes Gazette.

FATAL ACCIDENoTf
ITO A REPORTER.
years principal reporter forr.
to record the death
latterly connected with that journal. —We regret
riinage.the Thomas Newsome, for many
been attending the adjourned\ Leeds Mercury, though not
vhienddthersfield he had to enter a
journal. The deceased had
run_queest at Holmfirth on Friday
last, and on his arrival atl
wrong
train began to move he
fresh railway carriage.
The
i%odi!ection, and at once
so serious that it was found necessaryriteos he sustained were
out woa; the goingcar
Huddersfield Infirmary, whero he cm . convey him to the
ifuomunpdedhe
last... Don Neer Chronicle. Ptred on Wednesday