Star.
London, England, 1830-06-23 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP TAB JOUILVALS.

CH itowicLx.—Our readers will observe that the House of Corn.
mons did not meet last night. As it is pretty weU known that
Ministers can always command a House when they wish to do so,
and as there were last night no fewer than twenty-one orders, in.
eluding, among others, the Report of the important Resolution
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Sugar Duties, re-
specting which he may be supposed to entertain a paternal so-
licitude, to say nothing of five notices of Motions—and as
Ministers have been loud in their complaints of the arresr of
business, and have insisted on the House meeting even on
Saturdays—how are we to reconcile their remissness last nightbrith
their former complaints and demonstrations ? Did Colonel Sibthorp
frighten them with his 'Resolution for the repeal of the standing order
relative to the admission of strangers ? Did Lord Milton frighten
them with his Resolutions relative to the corn laws ?-O no ! For
-some time past Ministers have been putting forth their feelers in every
.direction. They are aware that they have been existing on sufferance
as it were. A party, in the usual acceptation of that term, does not at
present exist, and cannot exist; because, with respect to the various
questions that occupy public attention, there is the utmost di-
. remit)? of opinion in Parliament. The pubic, some time ago,
heard much of meetings of the Whigs at the house of a dis-
tinguished Nobleman; but it is pretty well known that no de-
termination was taken to oppose ministers systematically. But
then ministers are in themselves inefficient - they break down
whenever their measures are canvassed ; and hence they have
lost the respect of Parliament, and of the country at large.—
The Session has been a continued exhibition of feebleness and vs.
cillation on the part of Ministers. Ministers owe their want of
support not to any factious opposition, but to their own inefficiency.
Of this they are so sensible themselves, that various attempts have
been made of late to strengthen themselves by the acquisition of Mr.
'Huskisson, Mr. Charles Grant, Lord Palmerston, &c. Some may
think that the onslaught of Monday night is an evidence of the
failure of the negotiation. We think otherwise. It was a well-timed
demonstration on the part of Mr. Huskisson of his ability to serve
the Duke, and the inability of the Duke to dispense with
his services. We are much mistaken, too, if this is not
going the right way to work. After the cavalier manner in which
the Duke determined that his letter should receive only the explana-
tion his Grace chose to give it, Mr. Huskisson had nothing to ex-
pect from the love or good will of the Premier. His Grace is too
good a general to waste himself in unavailing efforts against an
enemy so strong as to leave him no chance of success. It was pro.
posed, we understand, that Sir George Murray should resign the
Colonies to Mr. Huskisson and take the office of Commander-in.
Chief, and that Lord Aberdeen should be allowed leisure to take a
few more lessons from Prince Blettemith. We need hardly observe,
that Mr. tioulbum would be relieved from the further dedication of '
his talents to the maturing his financial schemes. One thing is ca.
taro, that important changes in the Administration are unavoidable.
iiERALD.—There cannot be a stronger proof of the ill-digested
nature of the measures of the present Administration than this. that
plans which are avowedly intended by the Government as modes of
reform and relief to the people, are not received as such, but, instead
of boons, are looked upon as so many objects of opposition and re-
sistance. This is particularly the case with the proposed law re.
forms, about which so much parade of promise was made in the
King's Speech at the opening of the Session, and with the Chan.
cellor of the Exchequer's plans for reduction of taxation in the two
important articles of beer and sugar. Of all subjects upon earth
there is nothing so pleasing to John Bull as a reduction of taxes.
And well it may be so; for who is there, worn down byan overloaded
burden, that does not rejoice at the removal of any part of it ? But
Mr. Goulbum seems to be the most unlucky remover of burdens
that ever tried his hand at so popular a task. A species of ill
omen seems to preside over every subject which he touches, and the
pleasantest draught becomes unpalatable If the mixture come from
him. And why is this so ? Because, for want of a practical well-
considered plan, the promised benefits of all his measures evapo-
rate in the details. Instead of simplifying, he contrives so to ob-
scure and mystify every thing, that, in the end, what is to be
lost to the revenue is to be gain to no one; and what is the result
but, night after night, virtual parliamentary defeat, placing inde-
pendent members of parliament in the irksome situation of appear-
ing to refuse, at the hands of Ministers, the very objects their
constituents are pressing the Legislature to grant? Now this
would all have been otherwise had Ministers, instead of leaving
every thing to chance, and subsisting from day to day upon a life
of expedients, come forward with a well-digested and complete
view of the state of the country, its wants, and its means ; and had
opened to parliament such a whole and perfect plan of what they pro.
posed to do as they could with courage and constancy have abided by.
But,instead of which,so vacillating is their conduct on all subjects, but
especially on this one of finance,that no man is sure thatwhat the Cha-
ncellor of the Exchequer proposes to-day he will not abandon to-
morrow. On the subject of the sugar duties it seems pretty gene.
rally admitted that it would be better that they should remain as
they are, than be even reduced -as the Chancellor of the Exchequer
proposes ; and such, probably will be the case, after the formidable
opposition of Monday night, and the miserable majorities--first of
38, and then of 17—in which the Government found itself. Of
this reduction of numbers it is somewhat ominous and curious to
observe that it was occasioned wholly by deserters from the Minis.
serial ranks. The numbers of the Opposition remained precisely
the same (144) on the second division as upon the first; while
those of the supporters of Ministers were reduced from 182 to 101—
with this remarkable circumstance, which perhaps will never be
forgotten, that, in the Legislative Assembly of the first commercial
country, after a debate upon a subject of commerce of six hours'
duration, the Chairman of the first commercial Company in the
country is represented to have said that " he should be obliged to
any one to tell him what they were debating about."
Times. —We believe we may with certainty congratulate the
public, and compliment ministers on the success of the important
measure called the Beer BilL With respect to the clause, very pro-
perly negatived, which would have prevented beer horn being drunk
on the premises of the newly-licensed houses, it would be much
more proper to apply such a regulation to the sale of gin and other
ardent spirits. These, which minister to the fury of the passions,
should be removed from immediate use and ready contact, as de.
structive weapons are put out of the reach of madmen. It ht not by
beer, but by ardent spirits, that the morals of the people are injured.
The licensing system is a vast evil, which will be removed. It
supported .an odious monopoly both in town and country, and af-
fected in both the independent character of the magistracy. There
is no measure, whatever may be its excellence, that has not some
alloy. The licensed publicans, it is said, must suffer ; but surely
the prudent of that body have had timely warning that some flies-
sure for throwing open the trade must take place: and as to the
share which the brewers have had in the freehold of the public.
houses, no one can regret if this be entirely lost to such owners.
The law can take no account of them ; for their's was an unknown
sr.l surreptitious interest ; though we have no hesitation in amen-
.ng Our belief, that it is on account of that interest chicly, and not
through feeling for the publicans, that the beer bill has met with its
otter opposition. If increased consumption shall be found to make
up the loss sustained by the revenue, which we fervently hope, it is
gratification to consider that it is not the consumption of a dele-
-110(1J article, but of the wholesome and nutritious beverage of the
oluntry, by which the labouring man is sustained and strengthened,
not inflamed and paralyzed. We again, therefore, congratulate
.I.lnisters on the success of their measure, nd their triumph over a
poserful combination. The country, we trust, will reap the fruits
.4' their firmness.

FOREIGN; INTELLIGENCE.

CALAIS-TUESDAY MOININO.

PIC following telegraphic despatch has bee► received from
Paris :