The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-16 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 16, 1866.

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The Conservatives of North Devon have been
making an active display, and mustering their forces
preparatory to the grand campaign. Last Thurs-
day evening a company of 300 gentlemen sat down
to celebrate the annual meeting of two local
Conservative associations by the good old fashion
of a dinner. The speeches were long and the
speakers numerous, but the audience were fortunate
in having, for the most part, to listen to addresses
very well worth hearing ; tinged, of course, through-
out with party politics; but sensible, straightfor-
ward, and to the purpose nevertheless. It
i 3 significant of the times that, in spite
of the reiterated disclaimer of any gene-
ral desire for Reform, the leading Conserva-
tives at sue!' meetings invariably assert that their
principles are by no means opposed to wise, pru-
dent, and constitutional changes. The fact is that
men of ability and enlightenment are no longer
likely to be so completely blinded by prejudice and
custom as in the olden days, and they cannot help
admitting the right and reason of gradual and pro-
gressive change. If there is no longer the eager
excitement, the popular convulsion, the disturbances
which at last wrested the Bill of 1832 from a
reluctant Parliament, it is by no means sur-
prising. In the first place, that bill, how-
ever partial or defective, effected so much
good that there are fewer abuses to complain of,
while there is no longer the same opposition to en-

counter. The indifference charged against the friends
of Reform should really be rather charged against
their opponents, but it is a gratifying proof
how much party feeling and prejudice is
becoming secondary to the real interests of the
country. We may learn, too, from the attitude
assumed by the Conservative party of to-day
respecting the proposed reform how much
the present condition of political knowledge
and the opportunities of observation and travel
afforded in these days to all men of education and
position have a tendency to promote united and
harmonious action. While, of course, having no
power to make all think exactly alike, a consum-
mation never it is to be hoped likely to be reached
in this country, these influences tend at least to
make them all start from similar points and all aim

at the same goal.
The Earl of DEVON, who on the other evening
represented the Upper House, expressed the feeling
alike of the peerage and the populace in his. brief
and pertinent address. In returning thanks for the
cordial expression of approval which, as might have
been looked for in a Conservative assembly, the
mention of the House of Lords had called forth.
Lord DEVON said that he accepted it as a proof tha
the Peers were not looked upon as an obstructiv'
body, " not as a body that would blindly adhere to
old institutions because they were old—but as a
body which is not disposed after taking such mea-
sures, and they think fit to secure careful and deli-
berate consideration, to put a veto on all or any
measures of safe and rational progress." It is only
by taking up such a position, added the noble
Earl, that the House of Lords can be useful.
For himself, he boldly said that he thought
it a wise, safe, and expedient thing that as
wealth extended and education spread a judicious
and moderate extension of the franchise should take
place, happily illustrating his case by the remark
that the foundation of a pyramid was strengthened
as you widened its base.

Sir STAFFORD No RTrICOTE, the principal speaker of
the evening, addressed himself rather to the position
of the House to which he himself belongs, observing
that he was dealing with an unknown quantity
since not only had the present llouse of Com-
mons never met, but its members were by no
means the same who sat in the last Parliament.
No less than 200 gentlemen who sat in the last
House find no place in the new one, and thus
actually one-third of the popular assembly is

changed. Many of the 200 new members have
previously been M.P.s, but a great proportion'
of them are absolute strangers to St. Stephen's.
Some of the changes are losses to the
Conservative party, prominent among whom Sir
STAFFORD NORTHCOTE naturally placed the names
of Mr. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD and Sir Join,' HAY,
though there is reason to hope that even yet the
latter may present himself at the opening
of Parliament. Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE ad-

mitted that his party had lost ground by the
general election, but he bade them remember that
their efforts had not been in vain, since the vigorous
action of the minorities might naturally be sup-
posed to temper in some degree the course of the
representatives of the majorities.

Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE is kind enough to
foretell two serious drawbacks to the new Govern-
ment. The first is the difficulty of harmonious
action between Mr. GLADSTONE, the new leader of
the House, and the indolent and apathetic division
of his own party, which, under the easy dolce fur
niente of Lord PALMERSTON has long held pre-
eminence, and the second being the deficient repre-
sentation of the Ministry in the Lower House.
" We know," said Sir STAFFORD, " that the great
offices to which the administration of money is
chiefly committed, the Admiralty, the War-office,
arc represented not in the House of Commons but
in the House of Lords. We know that the Foreign-

office is now represented -wholly in the House of
Lords. These things were complained of in the
last Parliament, even when the Prime Minister was
in the House of Commons and able to answer ques-
tions and conduct the debates on great questions
if his subordinates were not present, and defend
the Under-Secretaries when they got into any diffi-
culties. But when we find the difficulties increased
tenfold, I venture to say it is impossible that
Government can be carried on satisfactorily with-
out those departments being more adequately repre-
sented in the House of Commons than they are
at present." Lord DEVON hinted at another and
more formidable element of weakness in the Cabi-
net—its tendency to yield its better judgment to the
clamour of a party or a faction, a tendency of
which we have already had painful evidence in
their conduct to Governor EYRE. But we must
not prejudge. They have a right to the cld Eng-
lish grant of " a fair field and no favour," and,
while we must hope they will fulfil the confident
anticipations of their supporters, we must certainly
admit that they are likely to do none the worse for
the vigilant scrutiny of their adversaries.

An able letter on the subject of Governor EYRE
and Jamaica appears in the Herald of to-day,
and the " unjust and malicious attacks " which have
been made upon the character and conduct of that
zealous officer are shown in their true colours. The
writer truly declares that those who are in haste to
prejudgesitin ihi
his conduct should first of all consider the
n which he was placed in all its peculiarities
position
and significance. Very likely many well-di3posed
persons have been led away by the violent language
and excited statements made upon this subject, and
become really so confused that they have judged
matters and measured the standard of conduct
according to the rules of every-day life more than
they regarded them in the light of extraordinary
circumstances. Governor EYRE'S position was in-
deed a most perilous one, and he had, besides, the
responsibility -of providing for the safety of the
Population. " His military resources were small,
his position isolated from all assistance; his foes
numerous, reckless, and abandoned, and daily and
hourly
likely to increase, augmenting just in Pro:
portion as success attended the first stages of
opposition." This is a very true delineation
of the state of affairs at the period of the outbreak,
and those who are so ready to declaim against the
severity which was
employed forget, or do not know,
that the only chance of safety that existed under
such circumstances lay in the adoption of bold
and decisive measures. To those wise and ener-
getic schemes we owe the safety of the island, and
the English public are indebted to the Governor,
while the white population of the island must
certainly be said to owe to him their preservation
from an imminent peril ; yet, as the writer of this
letter says, the man who rendered these inestimable
services has been suspended, and the " mutinous
faction" in Jamaica will rejoice in the re-
call of him who proved himself equal to
the emergency, and was able to put
down the insurgents with a steady hand and a de-
termined will.

Very true also are the remarks here made upon
the course pursued by the same Members of Parlia-
ment, in following the dictates of th ; faction and
joining those who condemn a man unheard.
it How," it is asked, " can Mr. BRIGHT or Mr.
BAXTER, cornpromiseci as they are by their declared