The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-07 00:00:00

"I
If

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1844.

In the Times of this morning appears a well-written
" Letter to Sir ROBERT PEEL," which will be found
in another column of The Sun. Mixed up with much
of caustic bitterness there is much of truth in this
letter, though it is truth of a sort that will be any-
thing but palatable to the Right Hon. Baronet. The
writer commences by reminding the Premier of the
circumstances under which he took office—how he
had with him the Church, the aristocracy, the bar,
the great majority of manufacturing and commercial
men, the middle classes, and no small portion of the
Liberal party in Parliament. All things, he says,
conspired to favour the fortunate Government ;
but now, much of these encouraging influences has
disappeared, and during the last session the Ministry
at times scarcely commanded a bare majority by the
aid of its enemies, and was more than once defeated
by the strenuous exertions of its friends. And what
is the cause of this gradual decline in the strength
and popularity of a Government, but four short years
since so powerful ? We give the answer to this
question in the words of the writer, as addressed to
Sir ROBERT PEEL :—" Your warmest admirers, Sir,
are at a loss if asked to explain upon what your Home
Administration is founded. It identifies itself with
no great principles ; it enlists in its favour no general
or generous sympathies. It has erected no standard,
however humble, round which your follower:
may ,rally. Calling itself eminently Con-
servative, it does not distinctly declare what
are its objects of conservation. Affecting
to resist Reform, it has sanctioned measures of violent
change. Professing to maintain our existing insti-
tution?, it has shifted its ground more than once, and
has conducted its defence upon no broad or intelli-
gible principle." Severe as they are, who can hesitate
to assent to the truth of these observations, which in
our opinion, sufficiently explain the cause of the
Premier's declining influence ? He has taken his
stand on the shifting quick-sand of Expediency, in-
stead of on the broad, solid rock of principle. With
sagacity enough to see the right path to pursue, he
has frequently chosen the wrong one, and may say
with the Latin poet of old,
Video meliora, proboque,
Deteriora signor.

Hence he has engendered a feeling of distrust and
apprehension in the breasts of his friends, while he
has failed to conciliate his enemies. If he still com-
mand a.majority in the House of Commons, it is not a
majority accruing from the goodwill, respect, and
confid4ice entertained towards him, but one caused
by the. apparent necessity of the case. 'We grant
that he has many difficulties to contend against, but
it is ate part of a true statesman baldly to grapple
with difficulties, with the firm determination to over-
come them, rather than weakly to submit to their
pressure. We wish that Sir I.IOBERT PEEL had more
of the Oak and less of the willoN in his nature,
braving the storm, instead of pliantly bowing till it
has
passed
over him.
well That he means
are d
we firmly believe, but of what avail
goo intentions when unsupported by
courage, energy, and firmness? Of what avail is it
that he propounds the doctrine of
in in the
cheapest and selling in the dearest
maYrkegt,,, if
fails to follow it up in practi. ? Of what avail is it
that to-day he delights a CUBDEN by his professions
of liberality, if to-morrow he brings sunshine to the
heart of a BANKES by his declarations in favour of the