The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-09 00:00:00

SPIRIT 01-' THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

It will no doubt have been ;;os6tved that Lord Grey
yesterday, in the House of Lords, postponed all farther
roceeding in two bills, of which his Lordship had pre-
viously shown a desire to accelerate the progress—viz.,
the Irish Coercion Bill, and the Bill for an Amendment of
the Poor Laws. The circumstances under which these de-
lays were solicited by the Prime Minister, the tone of his
application, and the occurrences of the preceding day in
the House of Commons, together with two or three facts
which were rather hinted at than formally explained or de-
veloped, all conspired to accredit a rumour, which gained
more strength as the night dosed in, to the effect that Mi-
nisters had become at length so conscious of the difficulties
which on every side heset them as to take the resolution of
resigning. It win not be considered as a proof, we trust,
of our insensibility to the magnitude of the crisis thus
rather disclosed than created, if we abstain for one day
from any further observations with regard to it. The thing
has been long preparing,—it has latterly advanced at a
giant's pace, and has, we think, become inevitable.—mimes.

The Ministry of Lord Grey is in peril, and this day will
put a period to its existence, or give it vigour to survive
its difficulties. The significant proceedings in the House
of Lords last night betrayed the embarrassed and dange-
rous state of the Administration. Lord Grey postponed
the report of the Irish Coercion Bill till this evening. The
Duke of Buckingham took advantage of the position, and
represented the danger of twenty-four hours' delay. Lord
Grey stated in reply, that his course was not " without
sufficient reasons." His Lordship further intimated—
" what those reasons were he could not now explain ; but
in moving that the Bill be pat off he had full reasons for
his conduct." The Duke of Cumberland made a charac-
teristic comment on this conjuncture, doubtless excited by
hopeless expectations. Lord Grey subsequently post-
poned the order for the further consideration of the Poor
Law Bill, stating that be did so " with the greatest
reluctance," but that he should be able this day to an-
nounce when he should renew the order. In reply to some
observations of Lord Malmesbury, Lord Grey afterwards
mentioned, " that it was only this morning that he had
found there was a necessity for putting off the considera-
tion of the Bill." The Lords immediately adjourned. All
these eventful circumstances denote a temporary paralysis
of the Government. Rumour was of course busy on the
occasion ; and as Mr. Spring Rice was the only Cabinet
Minister present in the Rouse of Commons, the reports
were superabundant. But the " Irish Question" is the real
stumbling-block. We stated on Monday that "the Protestant
Church of Ireland is the bane of this country, and has de-
stroyed several administrations ; and that unless this unchris-
tian nuisance be abated, it would still continue its political ra-
vages." The prediction and verification have been nearly si-
multaneous. We believe the fact to be, that great difficulties
are foreseen in relation to the renewal of the Coercion Bill,
consequent on the peculiar circumstances attending the
correspondence of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland with the
Government. Lord Althorp may anticipate a difficulty of
position in the House of Commons of no common nature.
We do not believe that any actual dismemberment of the
Cabinet has occurred ; but the King has probably been
apprised of the Ministerial situation, and will this day meet
his confidential ad\ isers. His Majesty's position is most
critical. A false step on the part of Lord Grey or the
King may 12ad to most disastrous consequences. Party
considerations and personal calculations are of trifling mo-
ment compared with the pregnant consequences of the re-
signation or retirement of the Ministry. A deep responsibility
attaches to the councils of this day. The Tories might succeed
in temporarily seizing the reigns of power, and his Majesty
might be so ill advised and infatuated as to allow them to
make the desperate and ruinous experiment of attempting
tl govern the British people and a reformed House of Com-
mons. The inevitable and fatal result of such a mad at-
tempt would soon be developed. Would they wildly ad-
venture on a dissolution of Parliament ? With all their
hooting in favour of the Church, the Corporations, and the
corn laws, could they succeed in obtaining a return of
ONE-THIRD of a House of Commons representing Tory opi-
nions, or subservient to their insane designs of political
misrule ? The very idea is preposterous, although Sir R.
Peel may have screwed up his courage to the sticking place.
Could they live a week with the present House of Com-
mons ? We defy—we dare them to the conflict. The
result would be the certain and overwhelming gain of
the popular party. A deluge of public opinion would
soon utterly destroy all vestige of the Tory aristo-
cracy. Whatever may be the temporary apathy and sup-
pression of popular feeling, the democratic power created
by the Reform Bill would burst out ; a Tory Cabinet
would be stormed in a few months—the Crown itself
would be in jeopardy, and the Peers would rue the day
when they were tempted to overturn a Ministry which
has stood between the aristocracy and the people. The
Church would be swallowed up in the earthquake of po-
pular indignation. The Tories would pull down the pillars
of the temple of the constitution, and bury themselves
under the ruins ; but they will be arrested in their career.
We hope and trust, however, that Ministers, in their
decision this day, will weigh well their responsibility and
duty on this critical occasion. Lord Althorp has never
been suspected of any sinister love of office, or any willing
sacrifice of opinions ; but he has a duty to perform to his
country at this crisis. He is necessary to a Liberal Adminis-
tration in the present state of parties, from his personal station
in the House of Commons. The Ministry may yet be
strengthened, and assume a more decided and popular po-
licy. The King cannot throw himself into the abyss of
Toryism. His Majesty has hitherto opposed the political
designs of the aristocratic opposition. A mean surrender
to their machinations may irretrievably compromise his dy-
nasty. We write advisedly. The course of the ocean
tide could be as easily stayed as the progress of liberal prin-
ciples. A reversed opposition a reformed House of
Commons, contending with a Tory Cabinet—an enlightened
and insulted people—a powerful and intellectual opposition
in the Peers—the many and fearful difficulties of the
country—would soon smother Sir Robert Peel, the
Duke of Wellington, and their new allies, Mr. Stanley and
Sir James (Turn-coat) Graham. What a precious exhi-
bition would a Tory Ministry be, opposed by Lord
Grey, the Lord Chancellor, and Lord Durham in the
Upper House—by Lord Althorp and a phalanx of Re-
formers in the Commons. Would the Tories renew their
alliance with the Russians, with the King of Holland, Don
Carlos, and Don Miguel ? Would they again double the Na-
tional Debt to destroy the liberty in France and the West
of. Europe ? The God of Freedom will " confound their
politics and frustrate their knavish tricks." Europe has
outgrown its feudal swadling clothes ; Great Britain is
secure under the shield of the Reform Bills. The rumour
last night in the best-informed circles was that Lord Al-
thorp had resigned, and that Lord Grey has communica-
ted to his Majesty the difficulty of the Cabinet. This day
will, of course, reveal the exact situation of affairs. A
Cabinet Council was held late last night.—Morning Chro-
nicle.

Mr. Hume voted in the minority of the Marquis of
Chandos. We have been among the consistent and steady
friends of the Hon. Member, but we cannot too strongly
express our disgust at such cross votes by such a
man. Mr. Baring was a Liberal till he became a
landowner ; and as he has always represented his
breeches' pocket,_ the people were not surprised at
his vacillation with regard to the corn laws, and many
other questions. But as Mr. Hume has generally received
credit for more honesty, and at all events for being more
obstinate in his opinions, his conduct appears inexplicable.
If opposition to the Ministry dictated his vote on Monday,
it was a petty and unworthy party motive ; if his acres or
his interest with the farmers of Middlesex explain it, we
equally condemn his strange course. We regret to make
these severe remarks, but the strong expressions of surprise
and condemnation occasioned by his coalition with Lord
Chandos, and its evil example, leave us no alternative.
Was it currency—low rents—or anti-ministerial caballing
which influenced Mr. Hume ?—because, though he voted
one way he spoke another. The conflicting cheers of the
Tories and the old friends of the Hon. Member must have
seared his conscience. We have too much respect for Mr.
Hume to allow this " mistake" to pass unobserved. He is
the last man entitled to trifle with public opinion. this
West India votes and speeches, though forgiven, are still
remembered by many.—Morning Chronicle.
"111nyrumours were afloat in the course of yesterday,
anticipating a change of Administration. The circum-
stances which render such an event probable are not few.
We need scarcely add that there are some which render it
desirable. But at present we have only to deal with the
probability. There is a prima facie presumption in favour
of all such rumours ever since the Premier himself acknow-
hedged in so many words that his Administration existed
only by the tolerance of the House of Lords, who could
crush it at any moment they felt the inclination. This
presumption has been strengthened by recent events, and
the assemblage of all the Cabinet Ministers at the resi-
dence of Earl Grey, in Downing-street, at nine o'clock last
night, as announced in the article of the Court Newsman,
would seem to favour the conjecture that some change is
at hand, or at all events that some crisis has arrived
con-
neeted with the fate• of the Administration.
Another
circumstance, which points to the same conclusion, in a
manner still more direct, is the course adopted by Earl
Grey, in postponing, not only the Coercion Bill, but the
pet measure of his Administration, the Poor Law Bill, and
the significant remark of the Noble Lord, that he would
not postpone either without an adequate cause. When
to these we subjoin the position of the Irish Government,
the retirement of Mr. Littleton, the predicament of the
Marquis of Wellesley, and, though last not least, the pal-
pable weakness of the general Government, as notified in
the largz-, minority upon the motion of the Marquis of
considsred, it is impos-
chandos....when all these thing, are