Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-10-02
British Cabinet Ministers ana their Func.
tiOns

The Cabinet is collective phrase. used to
distinguish the Ministers ofthe highest political
rank and Importance from the general body OF
flnc ionarics and heads of departments. who
vacate office as matter of course on every
change Of numbers or opinion in the House OF
Commons-implying confidence" or want Of
confidence in Il Ministry. The Cabinet does
not include more than n fourth part OF those
who are thus affected by the revolutions of poll
tics. and thenumDers Of the division list. Thus.
it is possible TO be Il member of the Government
and not have u "seat in the Cabinet" conSc-
qucntly. to gain that distinction il natural OBJ
ect OF ambition. and the inclusion, in it. and
the exclusions from il. give rise to IA thousand
negotiations and discussions to all those things.
in fact. tut constitute ministerial embarrasS-
ments and difficulties and render the construc.
ton of a Cabinet an affair of as much delicacv.
and nice balancing one polse against another "a
building house of cards. and often with about
the same result with regard 70 stability and
endurance All the higher Offices of the State.
those that bear the chief responsibility for the
conduct OF public affairs, necessarily rive their
holders seat in the Cabinet, which seldom con-
sIstS OF less than ten. or more than fifteen udi-
vdual'. They are always of the Privy Council
also; but here are ut least ten times as many
not in the Cabinet. This is, in fact, n select
BODY, in whom the whole of the Royal authors
u for the time being is vested: the other Minis
tiers being considered a. suhordnates ami
the instruments for carrying into effect such
measures as the Cabinet may d2tcrmiEe upon.
In measures are broachcd. discussed. and
arranged III meetings OF the selected few. ppPn-
larry known as cabinet councils; and when
lhey are summoned with unusual frequency. II
indicates there is more than ordinary difficulty
ana dlnTer III the aspect ol pubic aliiirS. or the
critical position Of the CABINET itself. The de-
cEIon' are taken by votes, and Minister may
ma himself IN the double dnhcn'ty Of being in
nt tbo saina tna. in .ycG - cn." his r,.i,,n,.
zion j. innvitahla. M b.vinrra nv. ritz, IN par
Lament he may, in thasame stul'ion. 'break u,
theH ,binct." receive the ROYAL commend 10 form
a new one. and ,lect colleagues more cpmpl;
ant. or with views moro co1-olaut with hi own
Or, lastly, certain topic. may b, lef- what ar,
called 'onen nuestjoas." tho, i. whom ,hcv co,n.
undnr discussion, each Slini, trr NAV vote ne
cording to his individual ooininn ulon tha,n
without regard to his oli.',l no.i,ion. Hn,wbn,
any mltter is made u "Cajinct question" if i
expected that the whole BODY viii act together
and stand or fail hy the puNic decision. vc6,,.vn
that may BE- We need only add. that tn, delih
crltions oftlia Clbnct are strictly secret. and it
resolves are frequently unknown. even 70 Tn
colleague, of this influential Council of Ten.
till they are put in execution. Bat. Ike man
other secrets, they generally ooza ont in mvst1
rouS manner. and become no secrets at all.
memorable instance Of this occurred in Deem
bcrit-.. when the Times was able 10 anDo,,nc
{, tn. world. the cominr r,Dellortl, Corn Law.
a statement that wa, for n time. r,G,-,6 h.li.
tn, credit 1.-THE Journal hanrin, in Tn, b,l,o,,
till doub, was converted into certainty. Th
Cabinet" therefore. il will BE- understood
the collective wisdom" of III, Ministry. Il. Pa
Lament is the collective wisdom of the nation
FIRST LORD OF THE TRp,srRy.-ro9n rory mn.
san.
~, r..
~ u".Ls o'i'e Ie'',',lru ~ '''e i''ru ny
annnmn "t' r. - n'oi'ln l'",'1 G7n uIiaP
c'r v, yo ,e'', 'u, I t
Traonrcr in Tho so,,, ,',', VI. o,'.Io ~ ~
tJn;rali, h Ta l'','''t'o' d, t'' polru
; Lord IIoh A1r,irai Tha - NJ; "','n- ""iVt
Treasury Is ,iy,,,. ii,, p",,,a HT;.,i- " ~
fine b,;i,,r mr. i,c.IIo,dorLnru Co.,, i'i ~
. mont : another i the Chancellor of bo 49,
y uucr the other three are simnlv Lord nf n
= Treasury
o The Office Of Lord JIirh Troasuror w,s bo,
5 as every per.on Is aware, duripr the nlro snre
9 the Crown, and was conferred bv letters paten