The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-03 00:00:00

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

Lord John Russell returned to town from a visit to her
Majest at Osborne House yesterday afternoon. His Lord-
ship travelled by the express train on the South-Western
Railway. The train stopped at the Wimbledon station to
set down his Lordship, who proceeded thence to his villa,
where he joined Lady Russell, and returned with her Lady-
ship to town.
Shortly after the arrival of the Noble Lord in Chesham-
place, the Duke of Bedford had an interview with his Lord-
ship.
At three o'clock, by an antecedent arrangement, a meeting
of Noblemen cor.nec'ed with the Liberal party took place at
the residence of Lord John Russell, in Chesham-place.
The Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Clarendon, the
Earl of Minto, Viscount Pahnerstor, Lord Cottenham, Lord
Marcus Hill, Sir Denis Le. Marchant, and Mr. Tufnell were
present at the meeting.
The Noble Lords remained in deliberation for two hours.
The Duke of Bedford was not present at the meeting.
After the meeting broke up Lord John Russell left his
residence on horseback, and proceeded to Apslev House,
where his Lordship had an interview with his Grace the
Duke of Wellington. The Noble Lord was closeted with the
Gallant Duke for nearly an hour.

Lord John Russell subsequently called on several of his
Political friends. _ _

At six o'clock last evening there was a very numerous
meeting of Liberal l'eers at Brookes's Club. The Noble
Lords who attended the meeting at Lord John Russell's were
among those present.
Lord Cottenham, it is said, is definitively appointed to the
woolsack. his Lordship had an interview with the Ac-
countant-General yesterday, and will take possession of the
seals to-morrow.

_ ..._..,...
The Earl .of Minto will proceed, it is stated, to Vienna.
At the moment of the break-up of the late Administration
his Lordship was about proceeding on a continental tour,
together with his family. The arrangements which had been
already made in reference to the Noble Lord's departure have
been changed.
The Earl of Auckland, it is stated, is to be First Lord of
the Admiralty.
The Earl of Ellenborough vacated his official residence
yesterday, and has taken a mansion in Grosvenor-crescent.
Earl Spencer is spoken of as likely to succeed the Earl of
Jersey as Master of the Horse.
The Earl of Clarendon dined with a select circle last even-
ing at Lord Dinorben's, in South Audley-street.
The Marquis of Lansdowne dined, together with the Earl
of Minto and Earl Ferteseue, at Lord Monteagle's, in Upper
Brook street, last evening.
Viscount Palmerston also entertained a select circle of
friends at dinner last evening.
The Earl of Clarendon had an interview with the Duke of
Bedford' after the meeting at Lord John Russell's yesterday.
Lord John Russell dined at home last evening.—Times of
yesterday.

RUMOURS OF THE DAY,
(From the Times of yesterday.)
The rumours of the day are quite in consonance with the
reconstructive and inoffensive course which has been sketched
by friendly hands for the Minister. It is said that Lord John
Russell is the willing bearer of her Majesty's earnest wishes
that the Duke will continue in command of the army. Ills
Grace has long since put on record his sentiments on this
subject. In August and September, 1827, he gave his rea-
sons, in letters to Lords Goderich and Eldon, for continuing
in that office under a Ministry to which he could not give all
his confidence and support. He had never thought-, he said,
that political differencesof opinion ought to prevent him from
commanding his Majesty's arnwat the Horse Guards, equally
as an army in the field, He Was ready, he said, to do what-
ever in view,
interests required ; and, with that single ob-
ject nview, did not obect to take a position the difficulties
of which might possibly at list prove too much for his
powers. It is added, that the Duke will be the medium of
communication with Lord Dalhousie, whom he introduced
into office, and to whose deference ho has a just and honour-
able claisn. Certainly there are peculiar reasons, particularly
in the present state of railway legislation, why the Board of
Trade should not pass into new hands, and lose the benefit of
that extensive information and experience of which Lord
Dalhousie has given such abundant proofs' To the cautious abstinence from action which hag ken
recommended to the new Ministry, there is one early and
unavoidable exception. In one short month the question of
the sugar duties will be forced upon them. It may almost
be said that the whole country is agreed as to whet must
be done. It is only a question of time. The distinc-
tion of free and slave-grown sugar eana it be ip In.
tained. The experiment might be ittalstWorthy, but it has
not answered. That accordingly will be given up, and after.
what has transpired AM to the real causes of the recent ran:.
nation, Lord John Russell is justified in cotintieg upon the
support of Sir Robert I'eel and the miljorlty of the Right
lion Baronet's colleagues to a final measure. The above dis.
tinction, we believe, will be at once abolished. As the
equalization of slave and free will serious]} affect our plan.t-
ers, their present protection against foreign free lithe.' will
for the present remain untouched. It will be pl-oVided,
however, that in three or four
years this protection, which
now is 9s. Bd., will be gradually reduced, and
r;ivr another
three or four years finally expire. ',ten is the outline of the tontemplated measure. 'winch the" state of the revenue, ae, well as the wants of the British consumer, has rendered
absolutely inevitable; nor do we think that any section of
the Legislature will venture to try its strength against so
moderate a way of meeting the necessity.

Sir Waltrr B. Riddell, Bart., has been ..wpcinted Re-
corder of Maidstone, in the room of D. Poi rycka PT, the
Liewiy-Appointod.Chief-hstice of BonibaY•