The Sun.
London, England, 1837-11-21 00:00:00

not of which I might have availed myself, had been solici)
tous to obtain power to obstruct the course of the Government
of Lord Grey ? * * During the whole of the
years 1833 and 1834, so far from showing any disposition to
resume power, by a combination with men to wh,ise principles
I was more opposed than 1 was to those of the Government,
my constant efforts were directed to maintain that Governme
against the attacks of opponents more eager for innovation
than themselves, and I have ever given them my cordial sup,
port and assistance upon every question on which the course o
the Government was in accordance with zny own principles.
Speech of Sir R. Peel, Feb. 24, 1835. Such will still be the
policy of Sir Robert Peel, because he and his party, whether in
office or out of office, act upon the same inflexible rule, that
of " looking rather to the maintenance and defence of
nsnal great principles than to the mere temporary interests of '
Tory, so little did it disclose as to the principles or intended party." We find the Globe, in an article of exquisite ab-
measures of the Cabinet ; but at least in the debate Mi- surdity, telling its readers that " Sir Robert Peel will have
nisters must needs make some sort of declaration. Then, no easy task. He will, we venture to prophesy, be glad on
what was it to be ? The Whigs had been every thing by many occasions to take shelter under the wing of Ministers, in
turns, as occasion seemed to suit,—sweeping Reformers, order to save himself from the hotheaded indiscretion of his
haughty aristocrats, viceroys over their King and under Mr. own friends." This we suppose is apropos to the opposition
O'Connell, black spirits and white, as well as grey. Were of the Government on the very first night of the assembling of
they now to preserve the friendship of the Radicals by fur- Parliament by twenty of those whom the Globe counted up in
ther sacrifices to the monster of democracy ? or was some its portentous columns as supporters of the Government. If
compunctious consideration for their royal charge to lift the Government last night had not found shelter under the
back a few of the Whig leaders from their recent degrade- wing of Sir Robert Peel and his party, where would it be this
Lion into their more appropriate character of gentlemen and morning ? The Globe cannot help being silly, but this touch
men of honour ? Something would be said on which a about Sir Robert Peel taking shelter with the Ministry is
conjecture might be hung; and that anticipation kept Mem- rather too much. The fact is, that the Conservatives never
bers in their seats, not only through the speeches of Mr. were more cordially united than at the present moment—at no
Wakley and Sir William Molesworth, who moved and se- time these seven years were Conservative prospects so cheer-
conded amendments proposing ballot, extended suffrage, and frig as they now are.—Morning Post.
triennial election, but even during the oration of the Hon. In commenting upon the Queen's Speech to her first Par-
Member lately translated from Middlesex to Kilkenny, who liament, we need hardly say that we separate the august and
(somewhat mutinously as respects his patron) began to bela- interesting personage by whom it was delivered, from the Mi-
hour the O'Connell Ministry, for being, as he tersely phrased nisterial composition to, which, with the exception, perhaps, of
it, so backward in bringing reforms forward. He gave his one passage, which we shall hereafter remark upon, her Ma-
Whig friends some ugly clumsy thrusts, reminding them that jesty contributed nothing but the inimitable charm of her own
Ministers owed everything to the Radicals (which is true most graceful elocution. Among the difficulties with which
enough), and that to fortify the Radicals was, consequently, our youthful Queen has to contend, in discharging the duties
their policy as well as their duty. But the worst was, that of sovereignty at so immature an age, the greatest is that
though he prayed the mover of the amendment to withdraw which arises from having to adopt the language and utter the
it, he yet announced that if it were pressed he should vote for sentiments of a set of political advisers more distinguishod for
it. His speech might have been forgiven, for it was harm- cunning than wisdom, and for trickery than intellect. When-
less ; but a vote is a different matter, and leaves a ever it is the interest of such advisers to dictate any good sen-
sting behind it. Mr. Grote, who followed, enlivened timont, the conviction on the mind of the public in general that
a defence of the Ballot, not otherwise amusing, by the it is meant hypocritically, might be expected to detract from
repeated misdescription of Mr. Hume, as member for the effect which it would otherwise have produced by being
Middlesex. Here had been four Radicals in succession, and reflected from her pure and ingenuous mind. She has
not a Minister "on his legs" to expound or to defend the overcome that disadvantage. Thus, when upon her access-
policy of the Government. It was not till yet another speech sion the Queen spoke of her determination to uphold the Pro-
had been delivered (by Mr. Liddell, from the Conservative testant Church in its integrity, and to preserve inviolate our
Benches, who was checked by the Speaker for the disorderly ancient Constitution, which she had been educated to respect
truth that Ministers have been keeping Ireland quiet "by and love, it was generally felt that Ministers intended by
large sops to the political Cerberus") that Lord John Russell such sentiments to deceive the people while they were endea-
at length vouchsafed to give some indication of the intentions vouring to perform their part of the campact at LicbfieldHouse,
of Ministers on the three main subjects of the proposed by undermining our institutions in Church and State. But
amendments—ballot, extended suffrage, and triennial election. the young and amiable Victoria spoke what she deeply felt,
Widen the Reform Bill, it would be tantamount to a repeal. unconscious of political duplicity, and unsuspicious of Minis-
Ministers would not do such a thing for the world, least of all terial deception. So it was when she put aside the written
Lord John, its parent. They had made it a large, that it speech in proroguing the last Parliament, upon coming to that
might be a final, measure. The people, if they choose, may passage which spoke of the mitigation of the criminal laws, and
take the unwise step of trying a more democratic reform ; but touched the chord of mercy that vibrated in her heart 1 Hers
in such an experiment, said the Noble Lord, I can take no share. was the voice of natural eloquence thrilling with the emotions
And all this was uttered with the gravest possible air, such as of truth. Who can wonder that, along with her hereditary
might beStabeen expected in a Minister who had never broken claims to the respect of Englishmen, Victoria inspires the
his word in IN life. We dare say Lord John looked just as serious, warm, devoted, chivalrous feeling of loyalty that welcomes her
and spoke in a tone just as earnest, when he read aloud to wherever she appears among her faithful people, in spite of the
his friends the two editions of his work on the British Consti- unpopularity of the weak and incapable Ministers who unfortu-
tution, in which he stamped his osto perpetua upon the close namly at present surround her throne. But of the speech ofyes-
borough system. We ourselves distinctly remember the so- terday what can we say ? Vague and jejune in the extreme, it
lernnity of his voice and countenance when he professed a si- reached the last limits of political inanity. When we recollect
milar determination to stand by the Church of England, and the terms upon which the present Ministers got into office
flatly said he would consent to no measure for the adjustment _when we call to mind the violent, unreasoning, and factious
of Church-rate which should be defrayed out of the funds of opposition which they gave to Sir Robert Peel's Administra-
the Church herself. With these reminiscences of his fidelity tion, to whose measures of Reform they would not even allow
present to our minds, our trust in the pledge of last night was a "fair trial"—when we remember the professions of extreme
of course implicit. Then rose Sir Robert Peel at the head of doctrines which they made to the ultra-Liberal leaders on the
the tremendous minority which he leads, of whom 296 were in one hand, and the Popish agitators on the other, in the view
London, and had been sworn at the table of the House before of obtaining the united support of both factions to force them
four o'clock. In full vigour of body and voice, as well as back upon the King—when we call to mind all their sayings
mind, he denounced the mischievous cravings of still unsatis- and doings at the time that those very Ministers manufactured
fled, still greedy democracy, and ridiculed the assertion of a quasi revolutionary crisis for the purpose of enabling them
Mr. Hume, that the system of representation as it exists now to coerce the Crown, and ride roughshod over the Protestant
in the reformed Parliament, is one under which " the people people of England—we can scarcely bring ourselves to be-
groan." Most truly did he conclude, that this ceaseless dis- lieve that the Speech from the Throne of yesterday is the
content—this restless impeachment of every institution—does composition of the men who stirred up the very Acheron
more than the strength of the most despotic Government could of Radical and Popish politics against Peel's Adminis-
accomplish to check, among rational and cautious men, the tration two years before ! Never was there a greater fraud
advance of true reforms, and the developement of free grin- committed upon public opinion than that by which the
ciples. When Sir R. Peel ended, so did the interest of the Melbourne Ministry attained to power. They objected to
debate and the attention of the House.— Times. Peel's Administration, as some of the Radical Members last
Our readers will find elsewhere the Speech delivered by her night observed, that the opening Speech to Parliament dealt
Most Gracious majesty yesterday to the two Houses of Parlia- in vague generalities and had nothing specific in it. Where
ment; but as the Speech does not vary in any essential par- arc the specific propositions to be found in the Speech of the
titular from the version of it which we anticipated yesterday, Melbourne Cabinet to present Parliament ? One might as
it is unnecessary to make any other special observation upon well look for pearls in a pumpkin. The mask of the Whig-
it than that it bears out to the utmost every principle and Radical Cabinet is thrown aside. Power was what they
profession of practice upon which the present Administration wanted, and power they got. The salaries and patronage of
was installed into office. Nothing, as we anticipated, could office include all that to them is attractive in ambition, and
be more inoffensive than the Speech itself. It would appear, estimable in patriotism. Having obtained power under false
iii fact, that it was specially written in order that no offence pretences, they now smile, like other successful chevaliers
might arise from it on either side, and that the Address na- d'industrie, with the complacency of indescribable assurance,
turally resulting from it, might be unanimously agreed to. in the face of the people whom they have duped, while they
This was a fair and proper course on the part of the Govern- pocket the gains of their professional ingenuity. Supposing
ment, for an agreement to an Address to a Speech from the a Conservative statesman were just now at the helm of affairs,
Throne never has been considered as binding upon the con- and the two great questions of Irish Corporate Reform, and
senting parties, where their special principles or measures the settlement of the Irish Tithe question, were brought under
have been involved. The Speech, in fact, generally speak- the notice of Parliament in the following exceedingly vague and
ing, has been more a matter of compliment and cere- leconic sentences—" The municipal government of the cities
mony between the Throne and the people than a mat- and towns in Ireland calls for better regulation." " The
ter of compact—and for the very satisfactory reason laws which govern the collection of the tithe composition in
that the Crown, on the one hand, has only the power Ireland require revision and amendment." What an outcry
to recommend ; and the Commons, on the other, to carry their would not Lord John Russell and his colleagues raise about
views into effect. This general understanding, however, was the vague and unspecific character of those allusions ? On
broken into yesterday by Mr. Wakley, who moved various such an occasion Spring Rice would have been pragmatically
amendments, not assented to by the House, and which a well- didactic, Mr. Shell theatrically indignant, and the " ponde-
directed knowledge would, at the present moment, have in- rous levities" of Palmerston would have finely contrasted with
duced him to withhold. The weakness of the Radical party itt the mock sublimity of O'Connell's exterminating thunders.
the House ought to have restrained him from moving amend- What has become of the "appropriation clause," upon which
ments, which the slightest reflection would have shown to him Peel's Ministry was driven to resign ? What of the total ex-
would be defeated, not only by the superior force of the adhe- tinction of tithe, which Daniel—the Atlas of Melbourne's po-
rents of Government, but by the support of the Tories, who litical system—had promised to the credulous seven millions?
will always vote against liberal measures ; while courtesy, on As to a change in the municipal government of Ireland, we
the other hand, might have very fairly dictated an absence from are for such a change as would produce a real reform, by the
discussion, which could not by possibility result in the attain- abolition of existing Corporations ; but we are not, nor are the
ment of any practical good. The Hon. Member, however, enlightened people of England, or Ireland either, for such a
moved his amendments, and they met the fate, however amply change as would put down one evil to set up another. If ex-
we may coincide with him in political sentiment, which, under elusive Protestant Corporations constitute a nuisance that
all circumstances, they richly deserved. The speech of Lord ought to be abated, most assuredly exclusive Roman Catholic
John Russell, in reply, is a subject for another day. We Corporations would constitute a nuisance that ought not to be
should have liked it better, had it been less praised by Sir created. Let O'Connell's "normal schools of political agita-
Robert Peel.—Morning Advertiser- tion" be only once established in Ireland, and the greatest
It is but fair to acknowledge the discretion of the Speech stride yet made to his avowed ulterior object—the dismem-
which the Ministers of her Majesty caused to be delivered by berment of the empire—will have been accomplished. As to
her Majesty yesterday. We say this in no ironical spirit. We the proposed provision for the Irish poor, if it be the one
really think that, considering the peculiar circumstances of which has already obtained the Ministerial approbation, we
the time, both as respects the exalted Personage for whom the cannot but consider it a mere mockery of relief to the exten-
Speech was prepared, and the possible—not to say probable— sive and appalling destitution of Ireland. O'Connell has very
counsels by which, ere long, it may be expedient for her Ma- recently expatiated upon the beautiful system of unrelieved
jesty's Government to be regulated—the Ministers showed a distress which exists in Ireland, and urged the propriety of
sound discretion in not pledging her Majesty to those doubt- leaving the starving myriads of his countrymen to their
fate,
ful views of policy which, in obedience to a supposed neces- while he draws his 15,0001. or 20,0001. a-year out of the
sity, they have sometimes thought fit to advocate. We arc pockets of the poorest people upon earth. We are convinced
happy to recognise, in the spirit which appears to have die- that while he continues to exercise a controlling influence over
tated the Royal Speech, a flattering, though tacit, testimony the measures of Ministers, no Poor-Law for Ireland will be
to the soundness of the opinion delivered very shortly after the adopted that will afford anything like effectual relief
accession of her Majesty by an eminent Tory publication. We to extreme distress in that country, and deserve the gratitude
allude to the following passage, which, we have no doubt, has of the people. The value of the promise given of improve-
been read more than once by Lord. Melbourne :—" They (the ment in the law of this country depends upon the manner
Ministers) are responsible—deeply, awfully responsible—for in which it is kept. From the bungling manner in which
the series of revolutionary steps which have brought the other professed improvements have been " carried out" in prac-
Government into a state of atrophy ; but of their conduct tice by the present Government, we cannot anticipate much
towards their young Mistress there is, in this respect, and, advantage to the administration of justice from any
measure
as far as we are informed, nothing to complain of—as of theirs, unless they conduct it with much more wisdom, abi-
she could not help requiring, so they could not have helped lity, and judicious vigour, than their " improvements" have
continuing, their services; but he could have neither the hitherto evinced. With regard to our foreign relations, we-
spirit of a gentleman, nor the feelings of a man—and Lord have the usual stereotype flourish about the friendly assurances
Melbourne is deficient in neither.—who could betray into pro- of foreign Powers, which, along with. the melancholy allusion,
mises, pledges, or plans,which might lead to future embarrass- to the continuance of the
,afflicting war in
sSpain, is, we
ments, the young, innocent, and lovely creature committed by suppose, Lord Palmerston s contribution to the peech. He
a combination of accidents to his temporary guardianship. says nothing now, however, about the " wise. and. vigorous
That Lord Melbourne may ende avour to persuade her Majesty government" of Christina, nor the speedy termination of the
of the propriety, or at least the-necessity, of his line of policy war which he has so long done his best to protract. Nor does-
we can easily believe ; but we do. not, cannot believe—we have he shed a tear over the memory of the perished " legion,"
not the remotest suspicion—that- either his bigotry to party, or which the Whig Government decoyed into the service of the
his ambition for power, will induce him to lead his inexpe- perfidious Government of Madrid, and left to the destruction
rienced Mistress into any measure likely to lower the dignity that foreign fraud and treachery brought upon it—con-
of her Crown, to impair the Royal authority, or to embarrass sisting, as it did, from first to last, of nearly fifteen thou-
or endanger, by any expedients of-momentary convenience, the sand of our mast ill-used and unfortunate countrymen.
freedom and happiness of her, se trust, long futurity."— There are too or three questions, of great importance,
Quarterly Review, cxvii. It is a vident that there was some affecting the character and interests of Great Britain in her
temptation to depart from this cow -se, which a lofty prudence foreign relations, which demand the early and serious atten-
and a nice feeling of delicacy equa fly demanded. Had Lord tion of Parliament. One is the " miserable buccaneering
Melbourne chosen to forfeit that cb erecter for which the writer war" in Spain, originally begun, and still carried on by our
we have just quoted gives him err dit, he might have escaped Whig rulers, who neither know how to cultivate an.haontehste
the lecturing of Mr. Hume and tb e opposition of Mr. Wakley. peace, or wage an honourable war.
Another
The illustrious score of patriots 'might have been appeased, continued progress of French conqufest i
the
Mediterranean,
n northern lAfrica
and though the Sovereign might have been involved in em- and along the Southernshores
barrassment, the party of the Adoninistration would not have contrary to the solemn pledge given by the French Go..
been exhibited in the awkward. position of dividing against vcrnment to the Duke of Wellington, that the reduction of
itself. But Lord Melbourne adid much better. He re- Algiers was not to lead tion
Africa. The third is the any permanent system of French
lied upon the honour of the ',Conservative party that they colonization orCong
spirit of Russian aggrandisement in
un-
would not, for the sake of any saniumpli over their opponents, checked and increasing
join with men to whom they :Have ever been opposed. lie the East, evinced by_ her conduct towards Turkey, and her in-
know that they would scorn to. resort to any such dextrous sult to the British flag, more especially observable in the case
of the Vixen, in reference to which a gross outrage upon the
combination as that which place d Sir Robert Peel in a mthinno-
rity in 1835. He was well aw are that if therewerchnoig law of nations was committed, for which it does not ap_
which pear that any suitable apology has been given, or any repa-
in the Queen's Speech contradict ory of the principles
Conservative leaders are governed i, no apparedndtrtees,ms.porylafrey ad- ration whatever obtained. There is one sentence in the speech,
felt however, which is really original and good. It is the very
vantage would induce them to op pose the A
honourable o po- last sentence, and we cannot help thinking it was suggested
—he could not help feeling it—tl
fioatr.
laihermh.ad sideration wouldP by her Majesty herself. It is as follows —" The early
nents to deal with, and that not
his partypursued when age at which lam called to the sovereignty of this kingdom
they retaliate upon him the policy
they condescended to regain offic :bblye theisaitlof O'n renders it a more imperative duty that, under Divine Previ-
nen. Lord Melbourne has, we • repeat, shown a very propheirs ehce, I should place my reliance upon your eordial co-opera-
discretion in the course which ) e has taken, and though anon, an. d.upon the love and affection ol all my people."
Lordship may be very sure that nothing with a revolutionary pass lee is in good taste, natural, simple and affecting. It
taint in it wil. c I b allowed to pass without the spirited and breathes a spirit of pious humility and of generous confidence,
1 S
united cpposition of the no st powerful minority that ever such as we know to animate the heart of our youthfu ove-
on we shalt
appeared in the House of Commons, he may equally reign. When the question of the Civil List comes
protect him when he have some observations to make respecting
unreserved
rely that the Conservative a will This
has the courage to do hi s 1 d f ' AI
, en_ tecrebystl, en er tile acremtary revenues of the Cgrotwhne. Of course,
oblige the
Radicals. It may be useful at this crisis to recal like former surrenders of the same sort, t
it can only be effectual
to the memory of our readers tie:. impressive statement of Sir for the life of the existing Sovereign; t
tough.some_grepe_ar to
an intended altena-
Robert Peel, when he met Pet dament as Prime Minister in understand the passage as if it alluded
ln the meantime, let us
1835 :—" Was not the first ti ) avow, in 1833, that the old lion of the hereditary revenuea
tactics of party were no longer applicable to the new circum- hope that Parliament, keeping Clue mean between a disci....
stances of the government of • the country, and that I would ditable parsimony and
haelravmhprodieality, will settle such a
Majesty as will gratify the feelings
give my support to the Adminie tration of Lord Grey, as long liberal provision upon
as that Government acted upoi i the principle of maintaining of a loyal and generous people, to whose honour it redoweds
the institutions of the country, a nd of promoting, not opposing that the august and beloved
.chi.ef of the nation should Ijave
sustain the dignity and splendour a one, tot the
the improvement of them? Di d I seek opportunities for cm- ample means
,_ to
barrassing the Government? Nan, many occasions were there greatest thrones upon earth.---Morning Ilerard.