Lord Stanley of Alderley and Mr. Baines have been added
to the Cabinet. The Duke of Argyll is relieved of that second stool which seemed to render his seat so precarious ; and happily illus- trates the plea of Lord Palmerston, that the Postmaster-General- ship should be maintained, in order to provide seat and revenue for a Cabinet Minister the more. Lord Stanley is considered a useful man by those who have been his colleagues : his constantly being summoned back to assist them tests the value that they at- tach to him—on the grounds of this esteem the public have been less adequately informed. Mr. Baines has long been familiar to the country as a man possessing the most liberal sentiments, sound legal and constitutional knowledge, a calm, a temperate, an inde- pendent, and an honest mind. Others might impart greater bril- liancy to the Government, but he lends to it an addition of trust- worthiness.
The uneasiness exhibited by these shiftings at head-quarters has perhaps contributed to encourage a discussion very generally kept up as to the probability of an immediate dissolution, even before the usual time for the meeting of Parliament. The rumours on the subject are endless, and are repeated with great confidence ; but we have no tangible sign that Ministers intend to make the election a Christmas game. The most probable expectation is, that Ministers will meet the present Parliament, will transact the most necessary business, and will dissolve whenever an appeal to the country shall become necessary or desirable. The country it- self is quite ready for the appeal. It is a question whether many of the Members are equally prepared.
