Year: 1868

ton but he left the train at Slough and went across
to Windsor direct. and then slipped over TO Eaton.
His interview with the Queen lasted less than two
hours, then, char ged with the formation Of Minis
try, the Liberal leader came to town, and in the
evening summoned to his residence in Carlton House
Terrace such Of his future colleagues happened to
be in London.


The more frisky of the English journals. like The
Telegraph. congratulate themselves the speed with
which the change has been effected See. cries that
journal, how much better our institutions than
that republic across the water can boast Of They
have to wait four months before the man who IS the
peoples choice get possession OF office. That Is
the inelasticity of written constitution. While we,
the glorious Briton efete as we are numbered with
monarchica constitution send the man OF our choice
in few days from the hustings to Downing-st..
Her Majesty graciously yielding to the popular will
There is truth in this contrast though the statement
of il is far from being original with the journal have
quoted The more conservative and decorous papers
are not led away into ecsaces by the rapdty of the
process. Nobody in England really wants anything
done quickly. and the worst compliment you could
pay them would be on swiftness to change.


The Cabinet never numbers more than fifteen
members including the Premier himself. Mr..
Gladstone has thus but fourteen places in
which TO accommodate at least thirty gen
tlemen who think themselves and most
OF whom are thought by the House-well entitled to
that honor. OF course am not going into specula-
tions-tbe list may be ont tomorrow. and you will
know it before this letter is fairly at sea. Mr.
Bright's friends have been openly announcing for
some DAYS that he will not take Office, and, think
most of them rejoice IN that belief For one thing
his health is not too good and it would be poor econ
omy to exhaust In the details of administrative
work q strength which is needed for labors more
important than the routine of any Office 1he
effort on the part Of Wing chque, which sprung
into light last week, TO prevent Mr.. Gladstone from
offering Mr. Bright place in the Cabinet, was abb
surd in itself and came after his own decision, one
way or the other had been formed. Practically, say
his friends his resolve was announced by the iinan
cial radicalsm Of his Edinburgh speech, which he
never would have made had he contemplated
taking office. It's doctrines might have proved
embarrassing both tohlmself aud his colleagues. But
the question Of accepting OF refusing has rested
wholly with himself. The Wings have lately COM
planned that Mr.. Brghts influence with Mr.. Glad
stone was far too great that it was even overpower-
ing aud that his was the controlling will of the
party. though Mr. Gladstone remained IFS nominal
head The old bitterness against Mr.. Brighps radi-
cal leadership has never quite died out. Something
of jealousy accompanies it. The men who used to
keep Mr. Gladstones conscience keep II no longer
Lord Russell and Lord Granville are superseded, the
PalInerstOn wing of the party has become the
weaker, the yOunR men arc replacing the old, and
the natural chief of the younger men who represent
the Liberal as opposed TO the reactionary Wing ele-
ment, is Mr.. Bright His personal intimacy with Mr.
Gladstone is very close and. whether in OF ont Of the
Cabinet his will be the directing mind Of the Gov
crnment on the greatest questions that are 10 be set
tied. There Is some talk of his taking snecure
Al l
with a seat in the Cabinet Bnt snecures are not to
Mr. Bright's taste If he declines everything II is
still open to make hun a Privy Councillor. with the
title of Right Honorable-if that be comfort TO
anybody.


1t was supposed the difficulty about Sir Roundell
Palmer would be met by making Sir Wm Page
Wood, the present Lord Justice of Appeal, Lord
Chancellor. and giving Sir Roundell the place thus
vacated. Sir Roundell Palmer is the most eminent
lawyer of his party, or of any party has been scc
torGeneTal and Attorney General, and would be the
inevitable Lord Chancellor. But he is strong
churchman and cannot make mp his mind TO go for
Dsestablishment The dissent is fatal to his promo
ton for the Lord Chancellor will have to draw the
BILL OF approve it, for dsestabishment and engineer
the measure through the Lords after IL has passed
the Commons. COnld he overcome his scIuples, hrs
appointment would be hailed with delight, and curl
ously enough it is limited that there is snch
q possibility after all. Sir VIM. Page wood
is great lawyer, but no speaker. and would
be no match for Lord Cairns, who VIII
lead the Tories in the Upper House with consnmmate
skill As the Tory majority in the Lords is very
large and only 10 be overcome by the pressure OF an
unmistakable public opinion in favor OF measure
sound in detail as well as IN principle, me natleT
one of great Importance to the of Mr. G lad
stones schemes A clever debater beng wanted. III
has now been suggested that Sir Alexander Cock.
burn Lord Chief Justice of the Queens Bench, shall
be made Lord Chancellor. aud Sir Roundel go 10 the
head Of the Common Law Courts: In a Parilaineht.
ary view this may answer but tns oh1nSe n,t,mg bur
a Common Law lawyer to preside IA the mgnrst
Chancery Court. But don't know that the pubic
would care much about that, or that people VINO
will 20 into Chancery would be much worse OF than
they are now. The thing was thought last hlght 10
be fixed, but is again III doubt this morning. =


There is a great number OF high Offices which 90
not give a seat in the Cabinet, and may therefore
be filled with less difficulty Nor is there any abso


lutte rule depotlng every Gee %niCn si or e
stance has not generally given its holder Capinet
dignity but Lord Mayo was III Dir. Disraelrs Cabinet
and if Mr. Chichester FOrescue take the same place
under Mr. Gladstone, he also will 60 into the Cabinet
That mysterious body holds an anomalous position
secret, irresponsible, but all powerful The Prener
chooses whom he WILL and dismlsses whom he Will
when his judgment dictates. lie may dismiss ms
whole Cabinet and form another If he can find the
material and if the Housewife still give him majority
But Cabinet always contains number OF able men,


whose knowledge of their special departments Is
probably greater than their chief has, and who are
men of great political and social influence IL sell
dom happens, therefore, that q Prime Minister
adopts or enforces policy with which majority Of
Dsraelis Council are we'll known, and the diif-
culty of securing united opinions on speech with
which the Queen should meet Parliament was one
cause Of the Tory Premier's premature resignation,


One rather important consequence OF 81. DlhTaels 4
abdication in the recess will be that when Para-
ment meets the new ministry cannot be IN their
seats. A member of the House, on accepting once,
yacates his seat and must be reelected. Before hc
can be reelected. Parliament must meet and new
writs issue Mr. Dlsraeli therefore has contryed 10
fIa M of ats Generals at