The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-20
LETTER FROM LONDON.

To the Editor Of the National Era:
little thought, while writing the prediction in
my last letter of Lord John Russel's fall in per-
haps few weeks, that only few hours would
suffice to witness the downfall Of the Ministry
While my letter was flying to Liverpool, on Fri
day evening Lord John arose, and, to the aston
ishment of the House. asked leave to adjourn the
discussion on the income tax until Monday night
when he would give his reasons. OF course, it
was at once understood that there was ministe-
rial crisis and early on Saturday morning it was
known that Lord John had rendered his resi- gna-
ton to the Queen and that it was accepted.
Lord Stanley was then sent for by her Majesty,
and asked, in conjunction with Dlsraeli, to form
a Cabinet, but after q short time concluded that
he was not then prepared to construct Cabinet.
The Earl of Aberdeen and Sir ]. Graham were
then sent for. On Monday evening Lord John
Russell only made partial statement, and asked
the House to adjourn till tonight 1t was known
to those in the secrets of the Wings, that Lord
John had been charged by the Queen to recon
struct Cabinet, and he intended so to do out OF
his own party-the Peel Cabinet, and the Liber-
al party In few hours, however, he was con-
WINGED that it was useless for him to attempt such
a reconstruction, and gave up the idea. The
Earl of Aberdeen was sent for, and declined to
form Government and at last Lord Stanley was
sent for again, and at once went to work to make
a Cabinet. One of his first acts was to offer to
Vscount Canning, member of Peeps Cabinet,
the Foreign Secretaryship Canning is a firm
ree-trader, and this shows that Stanley was con-
WINGED that he could not make a strong Cabinet
out of the Protectionist party. Viscount Can
ming declined accepting any office under him, and
Mr.. Gladstone il is understood, did the same as
Stanley avowed hts determination 10 reimpose a
duty of five shilings per quarter on foreign corn.
Gladstone, though tory, had the sense to per-
ceive the madness Of such scheme in England at
this time, when 6ve-sxths of the people are free
traders. Yesterday, all day, Lord Stanley was
exceedingly busy in attempting to form Pro-
tectionist Cabinet. The excitement in all politi-
cal circles was intense. At 5 o'clock he gave up
in despair, and rendered his resignation to the
Queen, and Lord John Russell was commune
Gated with by Prince Albert Thus have the
Protectionists been offered fair chance to bring
forward their political principles and establish
tory Government in England, and they have been
forced to admit that such thing is impossible
Protection is dead in England, and the sooner the
tories admit the fact the better for them as q
party
The last news hear makes it somewhat prob
able that Cabinet will be constructed by Russell
out of the Peelites and Wings, though nothing is
certain. The telegraph will very likely give to
the steamer, from Liverpool for America news
which will settle the matter. Sir James Graham
and Mr.. Gladstone had an interview yesterday,
and the members of the Wing party had also
meeting. The old Cabinet cannot come back
again into power; and even If it should, it has
been taught an useful lesson.
1t is very evident that the income tax must be
modified, il not altogether abolished, and the wild
ow tax swept away. And yet moreuthere must
be an extension Of the suffrage during the next
session ofParliament. On account Of the Worlds
Exhibition, it may be impoitic to agiate that
question this summer, but next year it will be
prominent question. Russell has pledged him
SELF il in power, TO bring in bill for the extern
sion Of the suffrage. II was on Mr.. Locke Kings
motion in reference to the suffrage that the Gov
eminent sustained such disgracefal defeat, and
because of that defeat we have had the ministe-
rial crisis. Such political crisis has hardly
ever been known before In England
Poor MIR D'Israeli is undoubtedly chop-fslen at
the short duration-only few hours-Of the
Ministry Of which he was a part The great
| leader Of the Protectionists, Lord Stanley, &C
knowledges the utter impossibility Of reimposing
| a duty on imported corn, and thus perishes the
Protectionist delusion here.
A book has Just been issued by the Longmans,
one of the first publishing houses in London,
which cxcites considerable attention. 1t is enti-
tied Ropuags in fhe Pacific" and Is written by an
English merchant. The ground he occupies has
been pretty well described by Mr.. Herman Mel
vile, and II Is on that account that ! allude TO
the book. On il the author makes statements
which involve the character Of Mr.. Melville lie
is not only accused Of being RECKLESS loafer, y
but of being rufIann The author states that
in the month Of June ls4s, on board the whaling
bark LUCY Ann, at Anatam, one of the New He.
brides, he was assaulted by ruiiisn with long
knife, and /" have the strongest suspicion that 1t
was Herman Melville, who threw himself upon q
bound, defenceless man That he was In the cal
hose at the time there is not question, and that
the man WAS aukcc WuO tuTcW uiVsSh upou
me will swear not only from the peculiar into
nation Of his voice, his pale, unwhiskcred face,
and the thatch-ke way In which bis hair fell on
either side Of 1t, but from the gliblike nature Of
his tongue, &cp
Believing this whole story to be an utter fsbri-
cation can do no less than copy 1t, for the first
journals in England are doing 80, the great re-
spectability Of the house which issued the book
making the story TO be believed everywhere.
Mr. Melville will undoubtedly deny the state
meuts which the book contains against his char
actsr. and perhaps can prove them to be false.
IL Ia little singular that this writer perfectly
comedies with Mr.. Melville In bis opinions re-
spectius the state Of the natives on those islands
In the Pacific where missionaries have been sent.
He even accuses the missionaries themselves OF
gross sins, but the religious world will hardly
credit the tales Of such adventures, whose avewed
object in going 30 far away from home and kin
dred has been either the pursuit Of pleasure or
cold. At least, men with such motives are not
the persons 10 Judge Of morality or Christianity
Willism Howitt's new novel Is meeting with
GOOD sale, and Is highly spoken Of In high quar-
tsrs II 10 somewhat new for him 10 perpetrate
three volume novel, and he has been very sue
osasful
Joanna Baillis, am sorry to say, is no more
She was we'll known to American readers