21 OCTOBER 1865, Page 1

The public regret for Lord Palmerston has not arrested specu-

lation as to his probable successor. Many names are discussed in political circles, but the majority appear decidedly of opinion that a Ministry headed by a Whig Peer, with Mr. Gladstone as leader in the House of Commons, will be stronger than a Ministry with Mr. Gladstone as Premier. Of the journals the Times alone advocates Mr. Gladstone's immediate succession, the Pall Mall Gazette does battle for Lord. Granville, the Telegraph, Star, and Morning Post are decidedly for Earl Russell. The constituencies taken as a whole would probably prefer a man of less capacity who had been Premier to a man of higher capacity who had not been, while politicians feel that in matters of foreign policy, Church government, and reform Mr. Gladstone will need the aid of poli- ticians colder than himself. Our own opinion is expressed in another column, and on Friday evening, after that article was in type, the Globe announced officially that Earl Russell had been charged to re-form the Ministry, and expected to be successful. This announcement has been made after an interview with the only fixed quantity in the prob".em—Mr. Gladstone, but there are changes other than the Premiership which still have to be arranged. Mr. Gladstone must have support within the House of Commons.