THE OFFENDED PREMIER.
NOTHING iS more painful to a sensitive soul than the persevering exhibition of friendship and support from vulgar-minded men. Our Palace Premier, for example, is pestered and annoyed with the officious alliance of those" low Radicals." In many indirect ways he has signified his desire to be well rid of them. He needs not their aid. Once, indeed, it was not without use : when the Court was hostile, plebeian votes were valuable—when the Tories strove in earnest to drive him from the Cabinet, it was convenient to fall back on a Democratic phalanx : but now, that the Queen cannot live without him, and the Conservatives are content with sham fights pour passer le temps, what, in the name of all that is courtly, can the Premier want from a Radical ? Carried on the shoulders of the People into office !—" an ounce of civet, good apothecary "—the recollection is sickening.
Lord MeLnotruns being a good-natured, though fastidious person, could not bring himself to tell the Radicals plump and p"ain that he would have nothing more to do with them, till Monday last; when, being taunted by a Tory Peer with a wish to ccnciliate the Radicals by cutting down the Yeomanry corps, he "spoke out "—
" Ths noble earl had intimated that this was a boon to the Radicals, for the support given by them to her Majesty's Government. If so, it was a boon without consideration—a boon for nothing—a boon more ilbtimed and less justified in point of policy, sense, or wisdom, than at airy period since the forma- t on of the present Goverment."
The Radicals now see the estimation in which they are held by the Premier. Their support is worth "nothing." To this " complexion " have they "come at last." For pats they get kicks, not thanks. This is rather bard on the poor Radicals. They exhibited such fervour of affection ! Nothing could shake the constancy of their friendship. Character—what was left to them—they threw to the winds. Truth and consistency they eagerly sacrificed on the Whig altar. And now, the god of their idolatry spurns them from his presence. Formerly they did get a elapse of genteel society—now and then a dinner in South Street, arid two or three of the more " presentable " an " invite " to Lansdowne House. But by degrees, and in proportion as they have become more prostrate in their subserviency, Whig hauteur has Increased, till, just when they had reached the extreme limit of debasement, by their vote of last week—preceded as that vote was by the unconditional vow of fealty at the Foreign Office—they are fairly put out of the window. Their best, that is their most Unprincipled services, are accounted as "nothing." Lower they tannot sink.
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