Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-20
FROM OURL OND ON CORRESPONDENT


LONDON, FEBRUARY 26, 1852.
The capricious divinity who presides at the wheel
Of fortune often displays the most fantastic freaks
among politicians, setting the wisdom of the wise
and the calculations of the cautious at defiance.
Last week we ventured to assume that the cause OF
| the Wing Administration had been much strength.
ened since the opening of Parliament and particu-
larly so by the verdict of nearly two to one in its
favor, on the division upon Lord MASS motion,
involving serious charge against Lord CLARES-
DON and the policy of the Government towards Ire
land. We thought Lord JOHN RUSSELL left st.
Stephens's on Thursday night with a consciousness
of renovating political power, and ventured to fore
tel successful continuance Of the Wing Cabinet.
Our ink was scarcely dry however, before sad re-
versal took place On Friday night the Ministers
asked leave to introduce bill to establish local
| militia and to amend the existing laws relating
thereto Lord PALMERsToN had previously given
notice Of two amendments to this bill, both being
in its title; to omit the word local. the other to SUBJ
sttute the word consolidate for the word amend. Lord
JOIN RUSSELL did not object the latter amendment,
but he took his stand against emitting the word occl
Upon the retention omission Of this word debate
sued, and, division, Ministers defeated by
of 1856 against 1885, considerably less than half the
members being present Of the 1876 who voted against
Minister'S II were Wings and e-Traders Is Peelit,
Traders &c., leaving only "a Protectonists supporters
of Lord Stanleys policy.
The House assembled Monday, and received the
nouncement from Lord JOHN RUSSELL that he and his
colleagues had placed their designations in the hands Of
her Majesty who had been graciousy pleased to accept
them and had commanded the attendance of the Earl 6
DERBY, who, it was understood. then employed N
making arrangements for forming Administration.
The notification made in the House of Lords BY
the Marquis LASDsDowSE who then gracefully and
feelingly concluded public life which has literally
tended through half century. Lord JONI RUSSELL
spoke WELL and stated that freetrade extension of su
frage and peace the grounds upon which hemean
take his stand in out of Office" His lordship was
much cheered and was in high spirits
Apart from all prejudice and party feeling think
read the list Of the Cabinet, which is an
nounced this morning, without doubling the fitness and
standard Of ability of of the noble and right homo
rabe personages who occupy prominent places therein
No doubts the talents the worth the mental
of Lord DERBY for the high position which he has
ed although think majority of the people of Eng
land viii repudate the commercial and financial reguia
tons which he into Office pledged support. Re-
specting Mr.. .DIsRAELI 1.-THE Chancellor Of he En-
cheque certainly think that he is the lead the
House of Commons, should rather say to take the
lead Of his party in that House for doubt whe-
ther that assembly will to be led By him We
think however that he has consulted rather his ambition
than his genius in the selection Of Office He will find it
difficult be both wit and Chancellor of the Exche-
quer. The figures Of rhetoric very difficult things
from the figures Of financial statement Perhaps, how
ever the Office is his choice. The position de-
clined by Mr.. THOMAS Barring, and believe by Mr.
HERRIEs the former, undoubtedly the fest Of his
party to I'll it. He naturally however, preferred being
the head Of the first mercantile firm in the world the
- roln~
nexOn with political party Of very poor prospects
with very uncertain tenure Of power and place Last
year Mr. DIsRaELI all but disowned by Lord DERBY
who stated that he had followers ct for high admins
tratye posts though Mr. DIsRAELI stood by listening
to the selfish and supercious disclaimer
OF Lord Chancellor SUopES say but little: he
is sound lawyer and an amabe gentleman and he may
easily make good Chancellor his predecessor did,
who certainly disappointed public expectation and pro-
badly would not long have remained in Office if the
Wing Administration had kept its position Sir EDWARD
suGDES is said be unfavorable Of the great
law reforms which the public begin regard desirable
il not absolutely necessary particularly the registry Of
deeds
The Earl Of LossDaLs is an old man, (65 y his prede-
cessor the Marquis Of LASsDowSE, is ". Lord LoSs-
has had considerable official experience having been
successfully Commissioner Of Woods and Forests Urea
Of the Navy Vice President Of the Board Of Trade
and Postmaster General He viii most probably be an
acceptable Minister His business in the House Of Lords
will be lighter than Lord LassDovSss was the Earl Of
DERBY taking the Ministerial lead in debate in that
body.
We scarcely know enough about any Of the Secretaries
Of State to enable to give opinion Mr.. WALPoLE
is Of talent and attainment but his fitness for the
Home oce is very much doubted he Is as years Of age
and called to the bar in 1885, he holds the rank Of
Queens counsel and has been in Parliament for the small
borough Of Midhurst since 1886. The Earf Of M.xrs
BURY is the grandson OF diplomatst and the great
grandson Of philoogst James Harris the author Of
Herms and other learned works y he is said to be
per; but he has undertaken Office which did not pass
from PALsERsroy to GRANVILLE without exciting mgiy-
ings and which recent incidents well as the general
state Of European affairs, to point the most
responsible in the British Cabinet IL at this time in
this world But If have doubts as to the fitness
Of the Home and Foreign Secretaries for their
spective Offices what shall say about the strange
up which has made Sir JoHS PASSGTos Secretary for the
Colonies and placed the welbeng Of forty de-
tendencies all less in unsettled state under
the Of this active Worcestershire magistrate The
highest Office he has filed is that Of chairman Of the
county sessions he has never shown any remarkable
clsverncss in that position and certainly eyirc
ed any capacity for any thing beyond it.
The interests Of the navy viii not we think suffer in
the hands Of the Duke Of EoRrHUssERLAsD. His grace
holds If admiral Ia n If busineas