The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, _LONDON, THURSDAY EVEN

of selection entirely his own, knowing the require-
ments of the time and the necessities of party better
than any one by whom he could possibly be advised,
has his reasons, sound and valid reasons enough from
his point of view, no doubt, for precisely the
distribution of the great offices of State, upon which
be has deliberately decided in the formation of his
Government. Nevertheless, for all th at, we should have
immensely preferred a different construction of the
Cabinet, could that in any way have been accom-
plished. Mr. LOWE might then have been the new
Minister of Education instead of Chancellor of the
Exchequer. Mr. BRIGHT, Secretary of State for India,
instead of President of the Board of Trade. Mr.
CHILDERS, Chancellor of the Exchequer instead of
First Lord of the Admiralty. Lord KIMBERLEY, once
more Lord Lieutenant of Ireland instead of Lord
Privy Seal. Lord GRANVILLE, once more Presi-
dent of the Council, instead of Secretary of State for
the Colonies. Mr. W. E. FORSTER in the Cabinet,
as Colonial Minister, instead of out of if in his pre-
sent subordinate position. Other rearrangements of
a similar kind we should have rejoiced to have seen
thus rendered in any way practicable. Conspicuous
among these, of course, the substitution of the Lord
Chief Justice of England for the Lord Justice of Ap-
peal as the new occupant of the Woolsack, and the selec-
tion of some eminent Liberal Chief having a seat in
the House of Commons, as the new Secretary of State
for the Home Department, instead of nominating to
that office a new man, who has the additional and
ludicrous disadvantage of not being a Member
of Parliament ! Blots there are of this
kind in the distribution of offices among
Mr. GLADSTONE'S colleagues, and blots those two
last mentioned are, especially, blots that we cannot pos-
sibly cease from very earnestly regretting —n am the
choice of Mr. AUSTIN BRUCE, who is not an M.P.,
as the Home Secretary, and the choice of Sir
W. PAGE WOOD, or, as he is now to be Lord
HATHERLEY, as the Lord High Chancellor. But,
otherwise, with those exceptions—coupled with the
regret, already rather implied than actually ex-
pressed, that, by the nomination of Lord KIMBERLEY
anew to the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, room might
have been found in Cabinet for Mr. W. E. FORSTER
as Colonial Secretary, Lord GRANVILLE resuming his
old post as President of the Council, and Lord DE
GREY having in that case allotted to him, let us say, the
Privy Seal—we do not conceive that the newly in-
stalled Prime Minister has evidenced in the selection
of his colleagues any undue predilection for the Whigs,
or anything at all like indifference to the claims for
office of the representatives of Advanced Liberalism.
The Earl of CLARENDON, the Earl GRANVILLE, and
the Duke of ARGYLL, are judiciously in the Cabinet.
While as for the leading champions of advanced Libe-
ralism—at the head of whom is the First Lord of the
Treasury himself—are there not, in illustration of
Mr. GLADSTONE'S loyalty to the interests of that im-
portant section of the great Liberal party, are there
not, as proof positive of that loyalty of his to Ad-
vanced Liberalism, " towers of strength" in the names
of Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. CHILDERS, to say nothing
of so eminent a Peelite as Mr. CARDWELL, so clear
headed an expositor of the modern school of
financiers as Mr. GOSCIIEN, or a new man so
thoroughly intellectual and so variously gifted as
the now Chancellor of the Exchequer ? Everything
considered, indeed, there is reason for satisfaction,
as we conceive, rather than for complaint with
reference to the selection of his colleagues by Mr.
GLADSTONE in the formation of his partly Whig,
partly Advanced Liberal Administration.

TIIE old rule caveat emptor does not apply when
the buyer is under age. The helpless innocent of
twenty years, being totally inexperienced in the ways
of the world, being ignorant of the value of money,
is so compassionated by the law that he is far better
cared for than the full-grown, matured, and discreet
man of twenty-one. The law says that the
"infant" may buy jewellery ad libitum, cigars
ad nauseam, brandy ad inebrietatem, and yet
he need not pay. It is for the seller to
beware, and if he is wise he will demand cash
down or decline the honour of his juvenile visitor's
custom. llere, for instance, is a Mr. WALKER, who
in 1804 was introduced to some jewellers as a young
man of fortune, possessed of not less than £B,OOO a
year, and who might safely be trusted with a consider-
able amount of jewellery. He was a liberal infant, and
ordered £4OO worth of trinkets at once. They were
sent to his lodgings, but the jewellers became uneasy,
and had most of the things back again. However, the
ingenuus puer seems to have allayed the jewellers'
suspicions, and his infantine grace and simplicity so
won upon them that they and other brethren of the
same craft allowed him to have goods to the value of
nearly £15,000. Considering that cigars do not cost as
much as brilliants, the tobacconists must have been as
liberal and confiding as the jewellers, for they trusted
the weed-loving infant with £4OO worth of tobacco,
to the great damage of the infant's digestion and of their
own pockets. The infant fell in love, and married
another infant, who had to be supplied with brace-
lets, tiaras, and brooches. The French say un et un
font deux ; un et une font trois, and in due time a
third infant was born, who demanded corals and
mugs. By this time the jewellers began to think it
time that the elder of the three infants should be
called upon to pay. So they sued the papa infant,
who retained Mr. HAWKINS (funny counsel), who
declared that the gross ages of the three babies was
only 35 years and 9 months, or an average
of less than twelve years. As for the biggest of the
babies, his riches had been greatly exaggerated.
Instead of £B,OOO a year he had but £1,000; and he
had been exceedingly unlucky on the turf ; had been
quite a little marquis, in fact, for he had lost over
£l9,ooo—nineteen years' income—almost by the
time that he was nineteen years old. Under these
circumstances was it not hard to come down upon
the poor babe? He had been surrounded by
rogues ; instead of robins, harpies had at-
tended him. These jewels and trinkets and
cigars were not necessaries, and therefore the
jewellers and the tobacconists ought not to have
supplied them. Funny Mr. HawiuNs did not say if
his client ought to retain them. Nor was that a
matter with which the jury thought they had any
concern. It was enough for them that the defendant
was an "infant," and they found a verdict for him.
Moral—jewellers and tobacconists should not allow
an infant to run up a long bill, even though he should
be a papa.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S last Message to Congress
contains some highly important, as well as some
doubtful and perplexing, statements of policy. It
is satisfttory to learn from an opponent of
Reconstruction and of the Republican policy
in general, that the country is rapidly recover-
ing from the effects of the civil war. Mr.
JOHNSON does not make any declaration to this
effect, but the tenour of his Message clearly shews
that such is the fact. The election of General GRANT
has been already followed by a marked improve-
ment in the social condition of the South,
and the PRESIDENT'S recommendations demonstrate
quite clearly that trade and finance in the
North are reviving, after the terrible collapse of the
late struggle. Mr. .ToiiNsoN advocates the early
resumption of specie payments and the contraction of
the currency. The report of the Secretary to the
Treasury supplements this advice
.by recom-
mending that greenbacks cease to be legal tender
for private debts contracted after the close
of the following year, and that they cease
to be legal tender for all debts and contracts, except
dues to Government, after January 1, 1871. There
can be no doubt of the signification of these state-
ments. They prove that the causes which have
so long compelled the issue of a paper currency,

which have kept down the price of gold,
and have injured the credit of the American Govern-
ment, are rapidly disappearing. The end of the
forced paper currency will mark the beginning of a
new era of prosperity for American commerce.
Further, the fall of the greenback from the unfortu-
nate position of prominence which it has
occupied so long, will be accepted as an
assurance to creditors abroad. It finally dis-
poses of the scheme of repudiation under cover of
which a section of American politicians sought to
injure their neighbours and finally ruin their own
credit in Europe. The payment of the debt in the
depreciated currency will no longer be possible.
When greenbacks cease to be tender in the United
States, the American Government will hardly offer
them in payment to foreigners.
It is in the matter of external policy that the Mes-
sage is most doubtful. In the first place, it states
that the United States have offered mediation
between Paraguay and Brazil, but that it
has been declined. It seems strange that the
American Government should have endea-
voured to mediate between two States, with
one of which it has of late become decidedly
unfriendly. To despatch a squadron to enforce
from Paraguay redress for an insult offered
to Mr. WASHB URN, the American envoy, and at the
same time to offer LOPEZ friendly assistance in
saving his power and his country, is not a very intelli-
gible combination. It may, however, be cleared up
afterwards. With regard to the Alabama claims,
the Message states explicitly enough that certain
portions of the protocol which were not approved by
the United States have been returned to England.
The resignation of Mr. DLSRAELI'S Government is
regarded as only a temporary hindrance to the prose-
cution of the negotiations. But according to what is
apparently an official statement, the American
Government desires the Anglo-American Com-
mission to dispose of the whole dispute between
the two countries : both the recognition of the South
as a belligerent, and the value of the indemnity to be
paid on account of the Alabama. It is hardly
libely that " the resignation of Mr. DISRAELI'S
Government will be only a temporary hindrance " if
this be really the demand of the United States. It
will utterly destroy the former settlement, and so
alter the aspect of the negotiations, that progress
can hardly be hoped, with or without a change of
Government. Lord STANLEY has conceded that the
commission shall sit at Washington instead of Lon-
don—though it is not easy to perceive why the American
Government should insist upon such a point—but
neither Lord STANLEY nor his successor could well
consent to give the commission an extent of power
which has formerly been persistently denied to it,
and which is altogether beyond the claims of justice
and reason.

LATEST INTELL MENGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

NG, DECEMBER 10, li6B

THE NEW MINISTRY.

The Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland is the only great
appointment remaining to be filled up. Who will be
chosen, or who will accept the offer, are alike open ques
tions. Even speculation is chary of pronouncing on this
point. The Telegraph remarks that the Marquis of
Ailesbury undoubtedly possesses many of those personal
qualities which it is so difficult to find in combination
with high rank, and with the requisite means to sustain
the dignity and costly graces of the Viceregal Palace.
The other journals leave the matter to the decision of
time and Mr. Gladstone. The minor posts are rapidly
filling up. Mr. Stansfeld has taken office as Third Lord
of the Treasury, and Mr. Ayrton has become Financial
Secretary. Mr. ICnatchbull-Hugessen is Under Secretary
for the Home Department, Mr. Monsell for the Colonies,
and Mr. Grant Duff for India. Mr. Forster
takes the Vice-Presidency of the Education Department.
The Times says it has been suggested that Lord Morley
or Lord Monck may be nominated to the post of Under
Secretary for War. Mr. Gregory has been named as
Under Secretary for the Foreign Office, but the report
requires confirmation. "Another rumour assigns the
honour to Mr. Vernon Harcourt, but it seems in the
highest degree improbable that Mr. Harcourt would desert
his peculiar sphere for such an office. It is said that Mr.
Otway will fill the new post of Secretary to the Board
Trade, which comes into existence in lieu of the abolished
Vice-Presidency. One of the most impertant of the
secondary posts, that of Secretary to the Admiralty, has
not yet been filled, and there remains also the Parlia-
mentary Secretaryship to the Poor-law Board still vacant.
Mr. Lefevre will be enlisted in the Ministry, and may,
perhaps, return to the office with which he has been asso-
ciated, while a new recruit will be found in Mr.
Trevelyan, whose destination is at present wholly
unfixed. The preferment of Lord Justice Page
Wood to the Chancellorship creates a vacancy in the
Appeal Court in Chancery, and the opinion of Lincoln's
Inn seems to have determined that Vice-Chancellor Sir
George Giffard must succeed to the post. A less positive
choice has nominated the learned gentleman who should
ascend to the judgment-seat thus presumably vacated by
the Vice-Chancellor. These promotions and the appoint-
ments possibly depending upon them could not, howAtr,
in any case have been well settled before to-day, when
the new Lord Chancellor will for the first time emerge
in the glory of his office, though the patent of his
creation as Lord Hatherley may still be delayed for
a day or two." The Star thinks it not improbable
that Lord Westbury may accept the vacant Lord Justice-
ship of Appeal. The same paper says : "We have
authority to contradict the statement that Mr. W. H.
Gladstone had been nominated to the Secretaryship of the
Board of Trade. No one could have demurred to such an
appointment ; but it is characteristic of Mr. Gladstone
that he has deferred the promotion of his promising son to
office in favour of others whose claims are in point of
seniority superior."

The Post has the following :—" The duties of the Board
of Treasury are increasing daily, and likely to increase
still further in these days of inquiry and projected retrench-
ment. Under these circumstances the financial work of
the Treasury will be divided between Mr. Ayrton, who will
be Second Lord, and Mr. Stansfeld Third Lord, with the
same salary. Vice-Chancellor Giffard is to be the new Lord
Justice, and Mr. W. M. James the new Vice-Chancellor.
Mr. Dowse is to be Solicitor-General in Ireland. The
Naval Lord of the Admiralty will be Sir Sidney Colpoys
Dacres. We believe that the Earl of Cork will be Master
of the Buckhounds, and the Marquis of Ailesbury Master
of the Horse. It is understood to be the intention of the new
Ministry to distribute the offices of the Household as far
as possible among efficient and able supporters of the
Ministry. The Duke of St. Albans, who has shown much
talent, will, it is said, be offered place, and Lords
Sefton, Morley, and Camperdown will be among the new
officials."

With respect to the Under. Secretaryship of the
War Office, Lord Northbrook and Captain Vivian
are each spoken of.

THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.—The Right
Hon. Earl De Grey and Ripon (George Frederick Samuel
Robinson) was born in 1827, at the time when his father,
the late Earl of Ripon, was Premier. He first entered
Parliament when Lord Goderich, in 1852, being returned
for Hull in the Liberal interest. He was, however, un-
seated on petition, but in the April of 181;3 he found a seat
at Huddersfield. In 1857 he was elected for the West
Riding of Yorkshire, which he represented until his
accession to the peerage, in January 1859. In the same
year he first took office as Under Secretary for the War
Department. When Mr. Sidney Herbert was removed
to the Upper House, in 1861, Earl De Grey was
transferred to the Under. Secretaryship of the Colonial
Office ; but he returned to his former post a few months
afterwards. On the death of Sir G. C. Lewis his lordship
became Secretary of State for War, and was sworn a
member of the Privy Council in April 1863. This post
he held until the incoming of the Derby Government.
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL.—The Right Hon. the Earl os
Kimberley (John Wodehouse) was born in 1826, and suc-
ceeded to the barony of Wodehouse in 1846. He has
filled several offices, beginning as Under Secretary
for Foreign Affairs in 1852; a post which he
occupied until 1856. From 1856 to 1858 he was Envoy
Extraordinary to Russia, and in 1859 he resumed his post
as Under Secretary at the Foreign Office. In 1864 he
became Under Secretary for India, and in the same year
was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, an office which
he held until the Liberal Government resigned.
THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL.—Spencer Compton Caven-
dish, Marquis of Hartington, born 1833, is the eldest son
of the Duke of Devonshire. He entered Parliament in
1857, being returned for the Northern Division of Lanca-
shire, which he continued to represent up to the present
election. The duty of moving the celebrated vote of no
confidence in 1857 fell to the young member, and
was performed by him in a manner which created a
very favourable impression. In March 1863, Lord Hart-
ington was appointed Civil Lord of the Admiralty. A few
weeks later, by the death of Sir G. C. Lewis, the office of
Secretary of War became vacant, and Earl De Grey and
Ripon, who had been Under Secretary for some time, was
advanced to the chief post. He was succeeded by Lord Hart-
ington ,who remained Under Secretary until February 1866.
Sir Charles Wood then retired from the Indian Secretary.
ship, to which Earl De Grey was transferred ; and Lord
Hartington, following the example of his late chief, was
elevated to the position of Secretary of State, with a seat
in the Cabinet. The office of Postmaster-General falls to
him at an important time, just when the Act for the
acquisition of the telegraphs by the State comes into
force.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE POOR-LAW BOARD.—The Right
Hon. G. J. Goschen is young in every respect, as a Cabinet
Minister, member of Parliament, and in point of years.
lle was born in 1831, and first entered Parliament, as a
representative of the City, in 1863. During 1865 he was
entrusted with the charge of the Oxford Tests Abolition
Bill, and so strengthened his position in the House by the
ability with which he advanced this measure, that at the
election of 1865 he was returned at the head of the
poll, a position which he again occupied at the late
election. On the death of Lord Palmerston, Mr. Goschen
was appointed Vice-President of the Board of Trade, in
succession to Sir William Hutt, resigned. He had been

at the Board of Trade only a few weeks when, early in
January 1806, he was elevated to the position of a Cabinet
Minister as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the
Earl of Clarendon, the former occupant of the post, having
been transferred to the Foreign Office,