13 FEBRUARY 1841, Page 11

Sir Robert Peel's debCit as a diffuser of useful knowledge,

at Tam- worth, has made a commotion among both the parties of which he may he reckoned a leader, Tories and Whigs. The Whigs exhibit a sort of hesitating desire to welcome him as their own, as if still doubtful whe- ther too open .advances might not be spurned. The Tories are quite shocked at his having committed himself so far ; and three or four clever letters have been published in the Times in large type, by way of timely check. They started from nearly the same ground that the Spec- tator occupied the week before last ; and afterwards laughed and scolded by turns, to briug the scapegrace back to his duty. These letters have given rise to much remark ; and the Times hints that its correspondent is some great man, or the Coryphieus of "great and able men." The Leading Journal seems to fear, however, lest the severe correction might render the offender desperate ; and yesterday it had a grave talk with Sir Robert upon the subject, winding up with an imposing air of forgive- ness, in the following terms- " He is beyond all doubt a great and able statesman—virtuous and disin- terested—much more capable of directing the councils of the Sovereign than those by whom her Majesty is at present surrounded; but still not infallible: and it is right that he himself should know what great and able men think of him. He will have his own natural and acquired talents to conduct him ; but he is not placed beyond availing himself of the advantages which may be de- rived from attending to those opinions which others entertain of his separate acts and proceedings. The speech at Tamworth we think not a wise one. What man is wise at all times ? Its errors and blemishes are ably exposed in those letters which we have published : Sir Robert, we are convinced, will be

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the better for them, at least in one respect—ire will be more cautious iaLfuture ; gad the country will gain also by any improvement which he may,derive from the suggestions of others."