The Sun.
London, England, 1828-01-08 00:00:00

FRENCH MINISTRY.

A change in the French Ministry had become
Gb Indispensable, and had been so confidently an-
ticipated for some time past, as the result of the
last election, that its occurrence has excited little

regret and no surprise. On the contrary, (with-
(nit any reference to the conduct of the states-
men who retire from office, or the qualifications
of those who succeed them), the general feeling
seems to be one of satisfaction, tbat the agita-
tion of the public mind is likely to be allayed by
so small a sacrifice, and that the known adhe-

rence of his Majesty to his servants, as well as
the tenacity of thelatter to their places, had been
overcome without any hazardous experiment on
public patience, or an attack on the principles of
constitutional government. A solemn appeal
had been made to the nation in the most favou-

cable circumstances for the Ministers, and-under
the most powerful' pressure of their agents
the rnation . had, answered that appeal by
a protest instead of a, vote of approba-
tion ;—and the most opposite_ parties, ad-
journing the . decision of their common quar-
rel, had joined in that protest, filling the repre-
sentative ChaMber with the pledged organs of
their hostility. To have attempted to carry on
the Government in the face of such opposition,
would have betrayed either an utter contempt for
the constitutional systeni, in which' the elective
body had recently shown themselves so capable
of acting their part with firmness and effect, or a
reckless disregard of the public tranquillity. How 7
ever much,.therefoie, it is to be regretted that so
dexterouS a Minister as Villele should have been
compelled to retire from office (for offences
towards public opinion probably nu his own),
and however useful it might have been for a Go-.
vernrnent like that of France, only commencing
its constitutional career, to have retained for
some time longer a Ministry with which France
and Europe were becoming acqUainted, instead of
commencing the repetition of the frequent
changes both of men and systems which preceded
the 'appointinent of the late Cabinet, a trial of a
new Administration had become indispensable.
It -would be superfluous to repeat the charges
against the Cabinet of Villele,—charges of sup-
porting the Jesuits and the priest party,—of
maintaining an oppressive police system,—and of
attempting to restore the most obnoxious privi-
leges of the old regime, as these accusations are
now sanctioned by the verdict of their country
and the sentence of their Sovereign. We shall
therefore only further claim the attention of our
readers to a brief and candid notice of the Mi-
nisters whom the ling has
.now called to his
Councils. ..

Count IFerronays, Ambassador to Russia,
passed the greatest part of his youth abroad.
He was Gentleman of the Chamber to the Duke
de Berri, and followed his various fortunes.
He is a man of a very agreeable appearance and
address, of undoubted probity, and is generally
thought attached to liberal and constitutional
principles.
M. de Martignac, the son of a celebrated ad-
vocate of Bourdeaux, had begun to make him-
self known before that city had acquired its ex-
traordinary claims on the gratitude of the reigning
family by its conduct on the 12th March, 1814.
Successively a Deputy to the Chamber, the
King's Commissioner in Spain, Grand Cross of
the Order of Charles 111., Minister of State, and.
Director-General of thesiesnaoisisi this, fortunate
son of the Gironde,—a type of those Gascons
who, according to a saying of Henry IV., take
every where,—has now obtained a portfolio, the
object of all his prayers and exertions. M. de
Aiartignac is gifted with considerable talents, is
distinguished for elegance and amiable manners
in society,.and displays in the Chamber a clear
and copious eloquence. We may remark, how-
ever, that his conduct during the last Session
did not evince much steadiness of political prin-
ciple,
and that his adherence to M. de Villele
through good and through bad report, will not
tend to increase his popularity with the Liberals.
But recent events, it is hoped, may have given
him clearer views of the nationalinterests, while
his dexterity will enable him to take advantage of
the constitutional breeze which has set in so
steadily from the electoral colleges.
M. Portalis, who is a Peer and a Judge of
Cassation, gained great distinction last session
by his report on the petition of Count Montlosier.
Though a great enemy of the Jesuits, he is a
man of undoubted piety. His religious princi-
ples endangered his personal safety during the
empire, when he protected M. Franchet, the
present Director-General of Police. Being a
man of an enlightened mind and liberal princi-
ples, his aversion to the Jesuits is not likely to
compromise the impartiality of his administration.
At the same time his excellent private character,
and the respectability of his family, must form a
strange contrast with the morals and connexions
of his predecessor.
M. Roy, originally an advocate, has become
the possessor of an immense fortune. Since the
commencement of his political career, he has
shown very considerable financial talent. He
occupied the place of M. de Villele immediately
before the formation of the late Cabinet,—he
distinguished himself for a strenuous and ef-
fectual resistance to M. de Villele's plan of the
Three per Cents, and his political principles,
both in office and opposition, are not calculated
to inspire any alarm respecting the course which
he may now pursue.
Count Chabrol belongs to a family who seem
born for office, and who enjoy places under
every regime. Being a member of the last
Cabinet, it was not supposed, at first, that he
would detach himself from his colleagues, and
remain in the present ; but his probity and ta-
lents for business, which are said to make him
useful to any Ministry, iuduced the King to re-
fuse his tender of resignation, though repeatedly
pressed, and to command the continuance of his
services. He seems now better placed in a Ca-
binet formed at his own
,recommendation, than
among his former associates, with several of whom
he could not sympathize.
General Decaux, promoted from the place of
Director-General of the Administration of War
to that of Minister of the same department, has
j ust been nominated a Deputy, we believe for the
first time. The General has considerable expe-
rience in business, is moderate in his opinions,
and respectable in his private character.
The new department of Commerce, an imita-
tion of our Board of trade, is given to M. de
Saint Cricq. He began his political career in
1800, as Secretary to the Prefecture of the Seine
and Marne, and has for several years been Di-
rector-General of the Customs. His reports on
financial and commercial subjects, which are
every session read in the Chambers,
give us no
high idea of the extent of his knowledge, or the
accuracy of his principles on economical subjects.
It may be premature, with the necessarily li-
mited knowledge possessed by foreigners of the
capacities, experience, and views of this list of
Ministers, to decide bow far they will be able

to consult the public interest, if counteracted by
a Court of different religious tendencies, or
how far they may deserve the confidence of the
nation without forfeiting that of the Crown. It
is obvious, from our description, that none of
them are men of extensive family connections,
and that they do not bring to the support of
the Ministry any number of devoted adherents.
Their personal influence is not felt in either
Chamber, nor firmly rooted in any party. They
must solicit support, instead of receiving it as a
homage—they must conquer the Chambers be-
fore they are sure of their majority. The Peers
made by Villele must at first cling around their
maker, and resist the usurpers of his place ; and
the Deputies who range themselves under either
banner, must hesitate to desert their party for
an Administration which hoists no decided co-
lours, and which the country rather views with
hope than confidence. The only thing in which
they all seem to agree is, an aversion to the Je-
suits ; and their strength, therefore, may soon be
ascertained by the dismissal or continuance of the
Jesuitical Directors of Police, Franchet and
Delavau.

It gives us sincere pleasure to add our convic-
tion, that this change of Ministry will make no
change in the foreign relations or policy of
France, though it may be a little displeasing at
Vienna.—Titnes.