The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-26 00:00:00

LINDON FRIDAY EVENING,

THE NEW CJBINEL

(Prom the Derbyshire Courier.)
Being fully alive to the magnitude of the pre-
sent crisis, Lord Derby's first object, on receiving
authority from the Queen to undertake the direc-
tion of affairs, was to construct his Administration
upon the broadest possible basis. It is evident that
patties are not so widely separated as they were a
short time since, the House of Commons being
composed of several small groups of politicians,
the members of which have associated together
rather from feelings of friendship and respect than
from the peculiar or exclusive character of their
opinions. Many of the old battle-cries have been
forgotten, and we are confident that a Obnservative
Cabinet, under the premieiship of L-Jrd Darby,
will pursue a more liberal course and effect more
beneficial reforms than any coalition of discordant
cliques that could at this period be called into ex-
istence. Of the sections into which members of the
Lower House is divided the Conservative is the
most numerous, and her gracious Majesty the
Queen followed the good old constitutional rule in
summoning Lord Derby to the helm. Nostatesman
of the day enjoys a higher reputation, both for ex-
perience and integrity, and none stands at the bead
of solarge au array of followers. Although the Con-
servat,ives may be exposed to the risk of defeat
whenever the Whig, Peelits, Liberal, and Radical
forces coalesce, circumstances at present render such
strict union improbable, if not altogether impossi-
ble. Whilst this is the state of things in the lower
branch of the Legislature, in the uPper Lord Derby
commands a clear working majority. Hence his
claim to the distinc•ion for which he bas been se-
lected is altogether indisputable, and his growing
popularity in the country maybe accepted as a sign
that he is again about to enter upon a prominent
and useful career.

The Peelite party consists solely of chiefs. It.is
composed of a few able statesmen who adhered closely
to the political fortunes of the late Sir R. Peal, and
who at various times held office. These leaders,
although men of recognised ability, enjoying'a re-
putation second to none, are without any following
whatever. They shine in debate, but appear as soli-
tary units in a division. At one time they belonged
to the great Conservative party, which came into
power with triumph in 1841; and although a sepa-
rat!on afterwards took place, the Peelites have of
late evinced a disposition to return to their old alle-
giance and to rejoin the ranks of that political body
to which they at one time contributed both strength
and importance. Former differences have forgot ten,
old jealousies have expired, and an apparent, if not
an actual, renewal of the connection, severed under
the most painful circumstances, has ensued. At all
events, from the commencement of the present ses-
sion the Peelites have generally adopted the same
policy as the Opposition, and have voted with them.
To Mr. Gladstone, as their recognised leader, Lord
Derby applied for assistance in the difficult task be-
fore him. We have reason to believe that, after
much deliberation and several conft rences with his
political ft iends, the member fcr the University of
decline
Oxford, at a late hour yesterday afternoon, on his
renderingown p a r part
Lordand
Derby
et
rh
pa
yt
the o
aid
hisi d
which
colleagues,
he
required.
W hat the reasons may be which induced these gentle-
men to reject Lord Derby's friendly advances it is
not for us to explain, but we certainly believe that
they missed what Mr. Disraeli would call " a great
occasion," both for proving their patriotism and for
restoring concord and unity betw, en all branches of
the Conservative party. Alone the Peelites are but
puppets, the sport of every wave and the creatures of
circumstance, whilst in close connection with that
political body to which they once belonged a noble
path of duty and high destinies opened out before
them. It is not, however, our wish to seek to fathom
their purposes, nor to enlarge upon the opportuni-
ties they have lost. For this these politicians them-
selves must bear the responsibility, and we imagine
the Peelite party will not easily satisfy the public
that they acted patriotically in refusing at such a
moment to lend their best aid towards the forma-
tion of a Government.

Having failed in his efforts to reunite and recon-
struct a Conservative Government upon that broad
basis on which it stood in 1841, Lord Derby's next
duty was to form a practical, useful, and en honest
Administration, composed of statesmen capable of
conducting public affairs with credit, and of •resca-
ing the country from the dangers by which it is en-
vironed. The materials for such a Cabinet are to be
found in the ranks of the late Opposition, at,d. in. the
course of a few hours the list of its principal mem-
bers will be announced. Conjecture is in theinean-
time busy, am/ various rumours, none of which de-
serve the slightest degree credit are in circulation.
Upon one point we can affot d the most satisfactory
assurances. The career of Lord Derby's Adminis-
tration, as in the case of his former attempt in 1852,
will be marked by real progress an i improvement.
Without the cant of profession, it will be emi-
nently successful in practice. The new Premier and
his colleagues have ever been the advocates of
that enlightened progression which secures the wel.
fare of all classes of the community, while it has
nothing in common with revolutionary tactics or
destructiveassaults upon time-honoured inati tu dons
and principles. To advance slowly and surely is
preferable toe hurried progression. The passion for
rash innovations once excited in the breasts of a
people, the temple of liberty is soon invaded, and
tyranny, wearing the mask of freedom, saps the
foundations of the state.

For coming boldly to the rescue at this terrible
crisis Lord Derity deserves the gratitude as well as
the cordial support of all impartial men. The task
is an arduous one ; but his hope is strong, and his
a'm firm, and he can await the result with confi-
dence. Lord Derby will fully perform his part, and
the public must not forgot that they also have a
solemn duty to fulfil. To the new Cabinet a fair
trial ought to be accorded. It must not be thrust
aside by reckless bands of adventurous politicians,
eager for place, and bent upon mischief, but unable
to direct the affairs of a mighty empire with dignity
and success. The Conservative chief undertakes
the government at a peri id of considerable difficulty
and danger. The least the people of England can
do is to prevent obsiructions being thrown in his
way, For the new Ministers we demand nothing
more than is accorded to the humblest subject in
the realm. Let their conduct be weighed with jus-
tice, and let them stand or fall by their merits.
Party appellations are f, equently nothing more than
distinctions bet ween different politicians have
b
the stamp upon the metal, and of late years all
broadeenremoved. The opponents of Lord Derby's
Administration of 1852 were compelled at a subse
quont period to admit that its career had been emi-
nently successful, and that its forcible ejection by a
coalition powerful only to do mischief, entailed
bitter calamities upon the state. The fatal
error committed upon that occasion must not
be now repeated. Lord Derby has been called
upon to govern ; and if he does this with dig-
nity—securing the prosperity of England at home,
and her honour abroad—the generous confidence of
the public will be his due, as it must be his best re
ward. As the noble lord's Minisiry has
been de-
nounced before it is actually formed, and his policy
cohdetnned previous to the exposition of the same
usual upon such occasions, we feel constrained to
express a strong opinion upon this point. Such fac-
tious opposition must defeat the objects of those by
whom it is practised, and the English people, with
their usual good sense, will perceive that the com-
position of Lord Derby's Cabinet must be known,
and
be with any show of justice held up to
ridicule and reprobation.
otheren

ne:qerti opportunity for
questions were put,
and the proceedings,terminated after administering the
THE LATE MANAGER OF THE "WESTERN BANK—
GLASGOW, Wednesday.—This afternoon John Taylor,
appeared in terms of adjournment before Sheriff Bell for
the completion of his examination as a bankrupt. It
was expecttd that at the meeting of to-day some interest-
ing facts woul I be brought oat, but although the balla
taontdh
roethe
c 'et: pr iefft egnatve
,
statutory oath to the bankrupt.
interrogation crowded,ation
SHOCKING DEATH OF A RAILWAY PORTER.—Yester-
day morning, at seven o'clock, a fatal accident of an ex-
traordinary description occurred to Samuel Spencer, a
porter,j employed at the goode department at the Wool-
wich Arsenal station of the North Kent Railway.
It appears that the unfortunate man
was
as-
sliding to attach a locomotive engine to a
train laden with timber, when, having the coupling
chain in his hand, he suddenly
raised his head,
without perceiving that the engine was advancing so
near him, and the result was that his head was com-
pletely crushed between a large piece of timber and the
projecting part of the engine, death being, of course,
immediate. The deceased has left a numerous family,
and was for many years in tne service of the South
Eastern Railway Company
EXTRAORDINARY AND DARING ESCA2II OF A CON-
VlCT.—lnt.rrnation was y-eterday
communicated to the
police of a convict named George naynes escaping from
the ship True Britain, lying iu the Theme off Deptford.
It appeared that a number of convicts had been
recently placed on board the above ship fur conveyance
to Bermuda. Early in the evening a boat, with seamen,
approached the ship. under pretence of bringing men to
join the vessel. They had with them a bundle, and
when they were informed that there must be some mis-
take, as all the hands were already engaged, they asked
for the captain and rca•e, but neither being on board,
they complained that they had been hardly used in being
sent to the ship under the circumstances, and prepared
to go off again, asking, ere they went, that if their
hammocks were sent down they might be sent back.
They then left, and a few hours afterwards Haynes was
missed from his quarters, having, it is supposed, during
the above parleying, become possessed of therbundle
brought by one of the men, and which containing sailor's
clothing, ha had placed over his convict dress, and left
thy ship unobeereed.