Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-14
FRoKoURLoNDoN CORRESPONDENT
LONDON, DECEMBER %, 1858.

LONDON, DECEMBER -, IS0o.
The country was startled on Friday last by the
announcement that Lord PALMERsToN had tender
ed his resignation of the Office of Secretary of State
for the Home Department; and that when the
Crown had accepted such resignation he would cease
TO form part of the Aberdeen Cabinet. The pub
ic surprise was further increased by the clear and
emphatic statements of the Times and Morning
Chroncte that this secession was unconnected with
the foreign policy of the Government; that it had
not arisen out of the difficulties of the Eastern ques
tion, but that it was produced solely by his lord
ships opposition to the Reform bill which had been
prepared by Lord JOHN RUSSELL and assented to
by the other members of the Cabinet. Both the
Times and the Morning Chronicle regard the conduct of
Lord PALMRRsToS in resignng Office domestic ques
ton, at SO critical period of foreign affairs, when it
desirable to present to the world the spectacle of
united Government and people, wauton, capricious
and petuent;" and it hinted and it is very much
suspected that the hint had its origin in fact that the
opponents of the Government would upon the event
proof Of their otenrepeated but utterly false asser
ons that the noble lord dissented from the policy his
colleagues the Turkish question This easily fore
seen event happened accordingly. The Morning Herald
Saturday expressed its belief that it would be difficult
to find " one imaginary individual who would credit
the monsrous assertion that Lord Palmerston retired
from Office the ground of the Reform bill alone
The Daily Neos INDUCES in some of the many wild
speculaons opened up by this resignation 1t supposes,
for instance that his lordshp may offer himself the
eaderless and objectless Tories and keep trade
conservative party, with against Russia battle
cry, defeat the present Ministry and become Foreign
Secretary, or even Prime Minister The conclusion to
which the Daily Neps arrives is, however the
that Of the Ministerial journal I" If efficient Home
Secretary is lost and may be regretted the reform ee
ment of the Cabinet becomes oil the stronger for his abb
1t may offend that Lord Palmerston should
go out but it will assuredly crafty many more We
complete issue with friend of the Daily Nsps
upon this point We believe that very great majority
of the liberal and safely progressive party in England
much disturbed by Lord Pamerston secession from the
Cabinet; and that they would be much disturbed
they believed his lordshp to be opposed any wide
spreading of reform this tme for if he
so they would wish him to remain in the Cabinet to
oppose any such We convinced that large
majority of the Liberal party in England would grieve
see any extensive alteration in the constitution of the
House of Commons attempted at the present moment
One feature Of Lord John Russes proposed Reform bill
said to be the dsranchsement all the boroughs which
do not contain five hundred electors eac and the dstr
button Of the representation which they possess
among larger constituencies Such alteration would
be right in justice and in principle, and most correct in
theory and entirely conformabe to the principles of the
British constitution and we'll would it have been if it had
been brought about during any part of the thirty five
years of peace which the country has enjoyed But who
would attempt to repair old building when the tenn
pest bowling head, the winds beating around it.
and store of infammatory materials within its walls
liable at any moment to burst into flame? There
other out Of doors to the of Lord Pal
merstons resignation One is that he is known to have
been far from favorte with her Majesty and the Prince
consort that he has frequently directly in opposi
ton certain known political tendencies of the latter
Again. it is said that Lord Pamerstons affair with the
Scottish Presbytery and his advice that the Queens pa
tronage certain societies. MISSIONS &c. should
be withheld, has brought religious persecution about
him, and that the Presbyterans and the High Church
party in the Cabnet-among Others the Duke Of ARGYLE
| and Mr.. GLADsToSE-have taken offence with him. We
know nothing about these matters but find them
stated by those who assume to know We shall probably
have wait for the meeting of Parliament before
have these difficulties cleared up. In the time
other designations spoken Of particularly that of
Lord LAyspowSE. This should not be surprised at
he has been long known to have wish retire into pr
vate life his age and increasing inrmties require rest
there will be mystery for conjecture
when he retres. Neither the present any possible
Government have fear factous opposition from Lord
LANsDowSE and in his capacity of legislator he will be
found ready aid the of national progress
far as his health admits.
Nothing is determined respecting Lord Palmerstons
successor. Lord John RUSSELL Lord Panmure, formerly
Fox Maule,) and Sir George Grey spoken Of.
These indeed trying days for in all parts
of Europe, and most of ALL perhaps, in England In
few weeks the Cabinet will have to explain itself fully
upon the whole subject of its sayings and doings the
Eastern question: and do not think that any remark
able degree of patience will be exhibited by either Par
Lament or people upon this subject.
Cabinet Council is to be held to-day, at which pro-
badly the vacancy vacancies in the administration
may be filed Much other business will have claim
upon Ministerial attention. such fixing day for the
meeting Of Parliament the state of affairs in the East
particularly in the Black Sea the dropped Ministerial
Bills of the last session; the Jewish Disabilities Bill
the Education Bill the wrongs of Ireland and the
plants of Scotland the clamors for Reforms, and the
promised Reform Bill Of Lord JOHN RUSSELL Then there
sition 1t is known that Lord DERBY and Mr. DIsRAELI
have concocted plan of operations but the Tories can
be secret the Wings Nothing appears to be known
except that much win have be DONE will least be
proposed to be DONE
In the time, Notwithstanding Ministerial difficult
ties diplomatic secrecy, the rapid rise in the
ke and the unsettled state Of the operatives in the
North Christmas is approaching with cheerful aspect
We have wholesome and seasonable snow, covering up
and preserving the crops before the rosts which
foretod by the recent fogs The cattle shows Of all
kinds promise abundance Of food The leading idea of
the season is told, plenty We would that there