Nothing can be less satisfactory than the state of London
this week. Without any feasible motive to revolution' or any spon- taneous anxiety for reform," we have had tumultuous riots in the East, and meetings of orgunize:: agitation in the West. Both kinds of movement fail to impres us with the conviction of reality. The miscellaneous mobs t at collected on Sunday, upon pretexts of Chartism or Irish Syfr :-hy, exhibit no traces of real purpose—not even genuine revolwavn. The leaders are unscru- pulous alike in giving tongue and in skulking when danger is obvious. The New Reform movement gets on by help of its agi- tating machinery ; but it does not display an united and deter- mined public : quite the reverse—vacillation of counsel is a prevalent characteristic; Chartists make irruption, to defeat or be defeated; and the only unanimity is shown in retorting Lord John Russell's sneers. The Liberal Ministry makes an imposing figure nowhere—it is tardy in calling the open rebels to account, though at last some have been arrested ; it is the favourite butt of orators, Chartist or Radical ; its ignorance, its apathy, and its feebleness, are the theme of ridicule. The prevailing defect, just now, is a want of some great public object ; and in default of such object, figments and counterfeits are set up, as a vent for activity or an honorary badge to obtain credit.
