Star.
London, England, 1831-02-28 00:00:00

SI'IRIT OF THE JOURNALS.

CstltOwlcm—On the occasion of Lord Brougham's elevation to the
first dignity in the law, we gave warm expression to our anticipations of
the great national benefits likely to result front this accession of power
and usefulness to a man, the whole tenor of whose previous life afforded
evidence of desire so earnest to improve the Juridical Institutions of his
country, and who was on all hands allowed to possess in an eroi.
neat degree the mental endowments, activity, and industry neces-
sary to the successful execution of so great a work. Since he ac-
cepted the Seals only three brief months have elapsed, and we
find him announcing from his high place, that the so long desired mea-
sures of Reform in the Court of Chancery are already matured and ready
to be submitted to the consideration of the Legislature. When we
contrast the energy and dispatch of hies proceedings with the indecision,
tardiness, and timorousness of his immediate predecessor, whose big
promises, from time to time reiterated, and on one occasion solemnly
announced in the King's Speech, proved utterly abortive and ineffec-
tive, we think we have an abundant justification of the anticipations hi
which we indulged.
Tt 'mi.—Saturday seemed at least to be a day of promise for the
cause of reform. Innumerable petitions were presented, and hot a
dissentient voice was heard. Even the Beresfords and Hondas:es
showed no sign of resistance. Lord Chandos made a sort of an ap-
peal to the compassion of Ministers,—.a cry for mercy that the op.
poncnts of reform anoidel not be sent to be tried by their country
for resisting the jest and universal denoted fore purer system of
parliamentary representation. But, in spite of this fair outward ap-
pearance, it is pretty well known that the boroughmongers are hard at
work, and in their usual unscrupulous way. Attempts are ma le, a; d by a
person whom we have more than once exposed,and whom we fear we shall
again have to hold up to public scorn (dirty and dishesting as the task
is to meddle with such a creature), to neutralize and nullify the altewal
consent of the King to the projected Reform ; it has even been suds
ciously awned, that His Majesty, in his repeated anti earnest declare.
dons in favour of reform, was insincere, and humbugging his
itniaters. We ask, without hesitation, does any man believe gaol
frank, generous, upright Monarch to be capable of such dissimulation ?
No : the King is most zealously anxious, after long and minute inves-
tigation of the details of the subject, that this great question should be
carried. But, powerful as the Royal sanction must be, let not NI inisters
trust to that alone. Theit enemies have not forgotten the Ministerial
pledge that the present Government will stand or fall by this ques. I
Lion. There are two modes by which they propose and hope to gain I
a victory. One is characteristic enough of the military quarter from
which it proceeds : it is, to meet the bill at its very entrance, and to
scout it by an avowal that no refinm is required. The other is 1
more circumspect, and equally characteristic of the very "candid"
person from whom it emanates : it is, first, to allow that many abuses
' exist—that it is most desirable to yield to public opinion, and prune I
away those faulty excrescences : then, after this liberal display, to I
deprecate the particular measure proposed, as subversive of our an. I
dent institutions, and not even calculated to conciliate those
the dread of sham is the sole cause of the intended reform. Haw shall
the ministers meet these two modes of attack ? The first, we appre- '
herd_ is not very formidable, and may be disposed of by a very short I
stilly—Weed, we doubt whether the assailants will not he too few to be I
worthy of any counter-attack at all. The second mode of proceeding
cat, be defeated in only one way. Lct the reform (t.nd we bather hope
from Lord Althorp's speech and Lord Brougham's character) be so
comprehensive and efficient, while at the same time it avoids the absur-
dities of universal suffrage and annual Parliaments, that the whole
country shall at once feel the sincerity of the Ministers, and their right
feeling and correct appreciation of the real wishes of the people. With
a measure thus manly—thus fitted to the wants and demands of' thc na-
don—they may laugh at a Parliamentary defeat. They may appeal at
once to the country, and the country will support them. But if their
measure shall be a mere trimming compromise--a mere complaisant
attempt to conciliate Parliamentary Whigs and Tories—it will assuredly
fail. They may dissolve parliament, but the usual conseqnences of
weak and inefficient measures will overtake them ; and the people will
reject their appeal with contempt and disgust. Let them be libetal
and firm, and we will guarantee their success. Half measures will as
infallibly conduce to defeat and ignominy.