The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-25
AFFAIRS IN EUROPE.
Our London Csrrsspenaencs.

Lord lain Russell and his date Colleague Opin.
ssn, /, me London Clubs on the Political rrsache
,, af the Former The Great Question IF the
Ho,sr-EYAo IS 10 be Premisr?-Lord Palmerstoa
scsR not Aecspt Office unless Freed from the Tntsss
fsrs.ce of the Court Par.y-Lor Gssy's Pre-
t0asi0g Discussed, Se., Sc.
II ever IL has happened that letter addressed
from Of those institutions, which, though osten
SHY Of social chara ter, the very focus of po
htcal gossip, and often Of intrigue, has proved &C
eeptabse TO your columns, l cannot help believing
that AZ the present moment you win rot think an
apology necessary, when ! endeagor TO give you
something resembling tableaux Of things anaper.
soIs which now to every club n London are of such
slsbsOrbirg interest.
My letters have from time to time appraised you Of
what wss approaching. No one can take an active
interest in men and parties, and sit at the seat Of
customs watching each change Of aspect, each cloud
ss il rises in the political horizon for some five and
twenty years, without gathering toerable iuhling
o. coming events as they cast their shadows before
him. At the same time, God forbid should set
myself up ss political prophet. One may be right
enough In predicting the progress OF q principle,
though net in defining the exact measure OF its ad
vsnce-ror there the passions, interests and mix
cd feelings Of individuals to be taken into consdera-
Son and these, no man can take account Of. That
Lore Aberdeen must fan, and Lord Palmentou re-
main master Of the situation, and that too, before
many weeks, knew well enough, and did
not hesitate to apprise you but the mo
dus operandi has taken every one Of us by
surprise. know persons intimately connected With
Lsrd John Russell, who state boldly that in their
opinion, the whig leader Of the House Of C,mmons
had not contemplated the step he took four and
twenty hours before. I heard nom the lips of the
Earl of Mimic, myself, his fatherinlsw, that what.
the fate Of the government Lord John intended
10 sink or swim with It. In the present instance,
he hiss entirely departed from the usage of his life,
which is-however strong his individual opinion
10 act tn strict unison with his party. He has the
sreateft repugnance to violste party principle and
ssfFaasRt as he is, his adherence TO it explains
many Of those fsngs or In the carrying out Of bold
resolutions and large measures by which he haslost
much popularity with the country. He has besn
heard to say that his indifference to this party prn
eiple the capital error Of Dir Robert Peel and,
therefore, that without consulting any individual hs
should have suddenly taken boat and pulled away
from the crasy ship, has astonished every one. At
Ne same time II 10 said that he could not have done
otherwise without subjecting himself to that which
Mr.. Dsrseh evidently desires to sccuse him Of
IL
take place, to be honest to Lord Aberdeen could not
% collective; and on this ground public opinion per-
fscty acquiA him. As to whether he should
have held on, and confronted the Rosbuck breaker,
opinions at tho clubs are somewhat more divided
and at first, decidedly, were uufsvorable; but .
change 70 even now going on, and should not DO
surprised 70 find that before eight days have elapsed
Lord John IL to be to have adopted the only
curse left 70 him. That he ought TO have yesignsd
two months ago, when Lord Aberdeen declioed to
accsde to hia suggestion touching the var admins
tratiou, 10 ssssried BY some; but many sound judg
CRh, nest this b. saying THAI The evil Of which
IsFi John ccmpiained w. not necessarily accumu-
laaivs; the chances q war might have suddenly
Cd fcm day TO dsy Of some decisive movement q
TIE army; that he hoped against hope, aud while
thNs Wa . thread 70 hang BY, he could not fairly
~ s isis ASs. Ss N sn s. S.cn: Evs. ynss
hoesalay Suggesting that change which curiouay
eneegh, wss conceded within twelve hours or his
depaTurs; and this hoping for the favorable ohsnos
sfwAr, with the natural rsius lance OF brave man
and his courage has never been questioned TO de-
seSt the coalition In, 1t 10 thought, sufficient Ansser
70 the objection that what was unteDab.e on the no.
tce Of Mr.. Rcebucks motion, was equally wrong be.
fore.
with respect to another point-thst Of Lord Johns
desire 10 keep himself clean hasded for another
Premiership one which has been put forward re-
psssedy since the dewosHnent, do not find thst
any man whoss opinion IL worth listening TO en.er.
tains II. Premiership ne essariiy c)ntemplatos
The utmost Cancellation OF party support, ana juss
now Lord John has, for the first time, given many
n sis walmess friends q species OF cold shoulder;
Sox while in the clubs and every coferie, they hare
been doing their best to bolster up the administra
II the houfe Besides, there is truth in ths report
thai Lord John would willingly, IL possible, bs 70
hcved from the cares OF office; ne ia fond of lcers-
tire, and is sensible enough TO know shat, though
IN M fa him. n nnVn nNIr uast lsar
terested patriot and is proud OF bis Character very
10 "used uP."
Bat WHO'S to be the Premier? This. Is the aestioa.
Not Lord John, / suspect, nor Lord Lsodsdowns
sither believe, tn ough the last is more probable;
many 20 30 far as TO say that Lord Palm rston would
prefer beng second ia responsibility, provided he
con secure clea- stage and no favor-no court In
teffererce-for his o IN department But the ma
Jory OF We Informed persons decidedly ncltse to
the belief tia. Lord Pamerston viii be content with
no combination which does not plaza him Of tie
bead Of affairs. After what took place In 1851,
his frieEds say 1t In necessary 20 his casras.
70, TIA. be should he so--tRaS tais, be kuo ~,
VA alone ne, sec, secure , hum from cur. n:1dnos,
absolutely ne eesary IN the present junc'ure OF 81
fsirs. The question then srists, whether Lord Pal
mention car command Q sufficient party 20 form
strong government, without the active itfluesc, o!
Lord LaDsdowpe, the Duke Of Bedford, and oine,s
Of tbe wings. From al hear, suspe t there IL 10
ooubs CT Lord Pslmerstons ability to form strong
man In tie House, which goes far 70 explain the
clever manner In which, ever since his disgrace OF
1861 he hiss. through every political phase c1ntrived
20 keep himself harmless, and even to better his
conditlcn. The Derby party ever shos bluns AFRO
at him. while taeir most poisoned weapons fell like
astumn leaves on all bls colleagues; aud IL ia only
now that fin ding be In after game Of his own sid
WI form no coalition with them, they begin 20 flag
stores. The gIeat wing families however will not
desert lin, even though their favorites may mol
occupy the position they might desire. TIE Pee.
ties win perhaps gradually take rank with the
tories, though even shis Ia not expected; bu., on
the contrary that the old coalition will agan bs
Reconstructed with q man OF undoub.ed energy a,
tbe bead, namely, Lord PslneSston, WIN, IL is ua.
and appeal 10 the co1stitus pcIes N he shoniJ ne
thwsrx IN the er ergetic measures the OCCASION re