The Sun. — 1851-12-26 (London, England)

EXCHEQUER. It was inconvenient, moreover, to accept just now as the expression of the views entertained by her MAJESTY'S Government the sentiments expressed very recently by Lord PALMERSTON in reference to KOSSUTH and to Hungary on the occasion of his memorable answer to the Finsbury deputation. Equally inconvenient were the opinions entertained by the far-seeing and experienced statesman in reference to Louis NAPOLEON and his triumphant coup itat of the 2d of December. Viscount PALMERSTON had avowed his ideas upon both these great questions with his customary determination, and the nervous group of Trimmers, with whom it has been his misfortune for some time past to be ministerially associated, were alarmed as to the consequence. For these reasons, they were impelled to relieve themselves of any further companionship with the Foreign Secretary ; and in so doing to gratify at once the absolutist powers of Germany and their own implacable animosities. During six years the hatred of the GREYS to Lord PALMERSTON had been masked by an affected appearance, of reconciliation. Their long-suffering postponement of vengeance was at last to be compensated by the sweetest of all revenge to placemen, that of total and abrupt expulsion. In yielding, however, to the evil thoughts of " the family," Lord Joliet RUSSELL did not seem to recognize that his course was no less preposterous than that of the carpenter, depicted by HOGARTH in his celebrated picture of Perspective, seated astride of the sign-beam, with his face to the wall, industriously and deliberately sawing it asunder 1 Upon the popularity of Lord PALMERSTON the stability of the Whig Cabinet was altogether dependent. For its vitality it was indebted to his genius, to his activity, to his eloquence, and to his experience. Upon several occasions of great emergency the presence of I Lord PALMERSTON in the Ministry, as Chief Secretary of the Foreign Department, had stood in good stead, preserving it from a destruction which must otherwise have proved inevitable. Yet, with the hope of satiating a thirst for vengeance that we fear will remain even now insatiable, Lord JOHN RUSSELL has ventured to give the go-by to the main supporter of his Administration. Among his many rash and ill-considered acts of ministerial temerity, this we feel perfectly well assured must henceforth be regarded as the most rash and the most illconsidered of all—an act, in short, nothing less than one of political suicide. Gratification, no doubt, has been afforded by this means to the Councils of Berlin, of Vienna, and of St. Petersburgh, but in effecting this most mistaken advantage the PRIME MINISTER has caused his Cabinet to degenerate into what we have already designated " A GREY Iniquity," and " A GREY Iniquity," unredeemed any longer by association with an illustrious statesman like Lord PALMERSTON, cannot be endured beyond a few weeks by the people of the United Kingdom. Viscount PALMERSTON is, perhaps, of all statesmen in Europe, the one who has acquired in his own country the largest amount of popularity. This Popularity,a moreover, has been obtained by no miser-4 shyis,tetomneoorf terouskcliienngee,to the prejudices of faction, of 3'l*"laing to the caprices of party, or of modulatingto the key-note of a temporary excitement. The position which the Noble Lord has assumed has, 0 fatherland, and of patriotism. His throughout the whole of dedicatedcontrary, been one of uarnthderaonf geniush isc principle,areliear 3 as s b'sae ne n an tthe administrator to the f ofc civilization What furtherance ethoef 'What we are stahceredbest interestscause o f here observing was recognized so fully l ust _ , er session by the Liberal Members in the House of Commons that a tribute unexampled in the history of statesmanship was offered by them to his ability and his patriotic policy through the medium of a very graceful and suggestive testimonial. Lord PALMERSTON is no less hated by the despotic powers of the continent than he is admired and respected by his fellow-countrymen. The cause of this is, we conceive, sufficiently obvious. In every instance, upon every occasion, he has maintained a line of policy honourable to him as an Englishman a line of policy, by the carrying out of which, during 1 the last 20 or 30 years, he has so contrived that over  The reception would not, after all, have been so very formidable a matter. True it is that the Noble Lord might not have made up his mind, he might not have determined finally, respecting various matters that would unquestionably be brought under his notice ; but he would not have been compelled, or even expected to have given expression to his own views, or to have anticipated by a single hour the explanations that must be given in the House of Commons. All that was required was that he should have devoted a single hour of time, which he could very easily have spared during the holidays, to learning the sentiments of the manufacturing districts —of the men of the West Riding of Lancashire— on a question of the most vital importance to the national welfare and the national tranquillity—a question which must be not merely discussed, but definitively settled at the very commencement of the forthcoming session. He should, however, have listened to some good wholesome truths, conveyed in plain, homely language. The desires, the will of the people would be clearly and distinctly expressed, not through the aristocratic medium that might be most agreeable, but by far more trustworthy witnesses, whose testimony was unimpeached and unimpeachable. —lt was not the time that would be consumed that deterred the First Lord of the Treasury from acceding to the courteous and respectful request put forward through Mr. Murata