The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-23 00:00:00

MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

The following is the correspondence read by Lord John
Russell in the House of Commons last evening

"Chesham-place, Dec. 16, 184 b.
" Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
has the honour to submit to your Majesty the following considera-
tions : _ _

" Sir Robert Peel's letter to your Majesty, communicated to Lord
John Russell at Osborne douse, offers the support of Sir Robert Peel
to his successors, provided their measures should be founded on cer-
tain principles, which are there explained, and framed in a spirit of
caution and forbearance towards the interests to be effected.
" The measures which Sir Robert Peel had in contemplation appear
to have been—a present suspension of the duties on corn ; a repeal of
the corn-laws at no remote period, preceded by a diminution of du-
ties; relief to the occupiers of land from burdens by which they are
peculiarly affected, so far as it may be practicable.
" Upon full consideration of these proposals, Lord John Russell is
prepared to assent to the opening of the ports, and to the fiscal relief
which it was intended to afford.

"But upon maturely weighing the second proposal, namely, that
by which duties would, after a suspension or temporary repeal, be
re-imposed and again diminished, there appear to him to be grave
objectiong to such a measure.

" The advantage given thereby to the land appears to .him more
apparent than real ; the uncertainty of prices in future years would
be aggravated, and the prospect of a complete free trade would be
still kept in the distance ; the prospect alarming the farmer, and the
distance irritating the merchant and manufacturer.
" In this view he finds that many persons deeply engaged in the
maintenance and support of the agricultural class entirely partici-
pate.
" So great an object as the settlement of this question, might in-
deed be held sufficient to justify the support of Sir Robert Peel's Ad-
ministration, had they proposed such a measure. But, as Lord John
Russell is placed at present, be could not himself propose a measure
against which the weight of argument, as well as public opinion, ap-
pears to him to preponderate.
" Had the harvest been plentiful, and corn cheap, it might have
been very ad►isable to have diminished the duties gradually ; but the
restoration of a duty after suspension has all the appearance of a
protective law.

" Lord John Russell humbly submits to your Majesty, that should
the proposal of an immediate repeal, instead of immediate stispen-
slon and ultimate repeal of the corn-law, preclude Sir Robert Peel
from affording that support to the new Government which he so
spontaneously and handsomely offered in his letter of the 10th of
December, Lord John Russell must humbly decline the task so gra-
ciously confided to him by your Majesty.
" Lord John Russell concurs with the reasoning of Sir Robert Peel,
which shows the inexpediency of pledging him to the outline of a
series of measures.
•
" The measures for fiscal purposes, therefore, would have to be
considered in detail by those alone who may be in your Majesty's
service.

" Lord John Russell trusts that your Majesty will attribute the re-
luctance which he feels to undertake the Government, without a
previous knowledge of the opinion, of Sir Robert Peel, to his very
deep sense of the injury the country may sustain from the rejection
of a measure of such vital importance, and not to a desire to obtain
a security for those who may be in power."
" Whitehall, Dec. 17, 1845.

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
takes the earliest opportunity of acknowledging the receipt of your
Majesty's letter of yesterday, which reached him at a late hour last
night.
" Sir Robert Peel feels assured that your Majesty will permit him
humbly to refer to the communications he has addressed to your
Majesty since his tender of his resignation, and as an evidence of his
earnest desire to co-operate in a private capacity in the adjustment of
the question of the corn-laws.
"In the letter of Lord John Russell to your Majesty, he expresses
his concurrence in the reasoning of Sir Robert Peel, which shows the
Inexpediency of pledging Sir Robert Peel to the outline of a series of
measures connected with the settlement of that question.
re'e'lLsohreclotJdohainyßo uttassseolltaroecris quires,
oahtamtheoasoamt
aeotbismtaeo,titallhayt
tSoira
pßloodbgerte,
that he will support one of those measures, namely, the immediate
and total repeal of the corn-laws.

Sir Rober Peel humbly expresses to your Majesty his regret
that he does not feel it to be consistent with his duty to enter upon
the consideration of this important question in Parliament, being fet-
tered by a previous engagement of the nature of that required from
him."

" Chesham-place, Dee. 20, 1845.
" Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to you Majesty, and
has the honour to state that he has found it impossible to term an
Administration.

" Lord John Russell was aware from the fret moment when your
Majesty was pleased to propose to him this commission, that there
were very great difficulties in the way, which it required the most
cordial co-operation on the part of his friends, and the firm support
of a large portion of those who followed Sir Robert Peel, to sur-
mount.

" Lord John Russell has had solely in view the settlement of the
question of corn-laws by which the country is so much agitated.
" Those who have served your Majesty and your royal predecessor
in cabinet offices during the administrations of Lord Grey and Lord
Melbourne, who were now in political connexion with Lord John
Russell, were consulted by him. They agreed on the principles by
which they would be guided in framing a measure for the repeal of
the corn-laws. Thus one great difficulty was surmounted. But as
the party which acts with Lord John Russell is in a minority in both
Houses of Parliament, it was necessary to ascertain how far they
were likely to obtain the support of Sir Robert Peel.
" Your Majesty is acquainted with all that has passed:on this
subject. Lord John Russell is quite ready to admit that Sir Robert
Peel has been willing from the commencement to the end to di-
minish the difficulties in the course of a new Government, prepared
to attempt the settlement of the corn-laws. But Sir Robert Peel
could not, of course, rely on the support of his political friends
should the proposed measure be in their eyes dangerous and unwise
" In this uncertainty of obtaining a majority in the House of
Commons, it was absolutely necessary that all those who were pro-
minent in the political party to which Lord John Russell is at-
tached should give their zealous aid, and act in concert in the new
Administration.
" Lord John Russell has, in one instance, been unable to obtain
this concert, and he must now consider that task as hopeless, which
has been from the beginning hazardous.
" Lord John Russell is deeply sensible of the embarrassment caused
by the present state of public affairs. He will be ready, therefore,
to do all in his power, as a member of Parliament, to promote the