24 JUNE 1837, Page 12

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

THE STATE OF THE MINISTRY.

THE King's death has saved the MELBOURNE Ministry : saved them from destruction by an adverse vote in the Commons; saved them from another beating in the Lords, which they could hardly have survived; saved them, if they please, from passing a ridicu- lous Poor-law for Ireland ; saved them from fulfilling their tyran-

nical design against the people of Canada ; saved them from bear- ing the blame of a totally useless session of Parliament ; saved them, in one word, from such a mess as Ministry never got into before.

The King's death, moreover, provides the MELBOURNE Whigs with all that they could reasonably desire : it removes their " dif- ficulties " at Court ; it dismisses the PEEL Parliament ; it enables Lord MELBOURNE to manage the Lords, without any organic

change ; it disposes the country to forgive and forget the past sins of his government—to hope every thing from a new reign

and a new policy ; it furnishes him, in short, with an excellent opportunity of taking a fresh departure, and establishing his party in power as a measure-carrying Government. But the King's death only makes this opportunity for Lord MELBOURNE. Whether or not he will take advantage of it, de-

pends, as we observed by anticipation two weeks ago, altogether upon himself. His greatest danger, we fear, is a false reliance. Court favour alone will not save his Government for more than a few months, though it do give them the opportunity of saving them- selves completely by their own efforts. There are said to be three classes of politicians,—those who make occasions, those who seize

them, and those who neglect them : if the MELBOURNE Whigs should not vigorously seize the occasion which has been made for them by accident, they will surely reap the natural harvest of past errors. But so much has been done for them by fortune, that all the rest depends on their own conduct. What could Ministry desire more?

Although, however, it would seem that the fate of the MELBOURNE Ministry is now in their own hands, no careful observer imagines

that their course is perfectly easy. It is only because 1114 have great difficulties to contend with, that reliance upon their.own conduct appears so necessary. Let us endeavour to point out what those difficulties are.

The accident which has saved the MELBOURNE Ministry for the present, necessitates a general election. But this dissolution

of Parliament will not be an appeal to the country on behalf either of the Sovereign, or of a Ministry, or of any definite policy : it wilt be a general election brought about by mere accident. Nay, see-

ing that, for the last twelvemonth at least, the MELBOURNE

Ministry have had no policy whatever, unless it be politic to rub on any how, (except in the way of making enemies, wherein cer-

tain members of Lord MELBouRNE's Government have been reso-

lute and consistent); and seeing also that the Tories, besides having adopted a definite policy—that of obstruction to all organic change and all interference with the Church—have recently taken some pains to intimate that they should not object, if in power, to administrative improvements ; comparing, we say, the posi-

tion of Lord MELBOURNE and Sir ROBERT PEEL before the country at the end of last week, it would appear that, un- less Lord MELBOURNE take up a new position presently, the general election will be, for him, a mere accident, but fur his op-

ponents the same as if they had dissolved the Parliament and appealed to the country on their own policy. This would be a

great disadvantage for the Ministry. Their partisan, the Chronicle,

seeing apparently that the Tories have the advantage of a policy to go upon, would have us believe that this election will be an

appeal on behalf of Queen VICTORIA. Such nonsense might serve Lord MELBOURNE if the nursery could vote, but 18 well calculated to injure him with grown people, by leading to a notion

that he is inclined to depend wholly upon Court favour. His greatest difficulty, after what has happened during the last year, will be to persuade the country that he has a policy ; and this

difficulty is increased by such use as the Chronicle makes of "the Queen's name." There is time, however, for matching the Tories, by setting up some sort of policy in opposition to theirs.

What policy? Here is another difficulty; not so great, perhaps, as that of inducing the country to believe that a policy has been

adopted, but still very serious. Reform of the Lords f—that pear is less ripe than ever, thanks to the plan of bombarding the Lords with mere proposals-for-rejection. "The DURHAM policy would

have been accepted twelve months ago, but must now, we fear, be

laid by for some time. The MELBOURNE Whigs, to speak meta- phorically like the Examiner, have managed to put out the very

fire which kept up the steam of organic reform. They m ustdo as well as may be without that irresistible force. Considering the public apathy, of which themselves have been the cause, all,

perhaps, that they can safely do at present, is to proclaim and give assurance, that they will not shrink from adopting in due season whatever means may be necessary for carrying measures desired by the country. For this purpose, Lord MELBOURNE BMA take into his councils men who have not disappointed the country, and must get rid of colleagues—let us rather say, in-

cumbrances—who will never be trusted again. Nothing less than some striking change in the composition of his Government will be accepted from Lord MELBOURNE as a guarantee that he means to deserve the confidence of Reformers. Upon this point we

shall soon be enlightened; for there would be no use in such a change unless it should come some time before the election. By way of a beginning, is Lord HILL to be removed from the Horse Guards?—is Lord DURHAM, recollecting his own proceedings at Glasgow in 1834, to hold a responsible office? What pledges, what assurance are we to have that it will be worth while to make a great effort against the Tories at the coming election ?

All depends upon the answer to this last question. The Tories are rich, united, unscrupulous, active, and thoroughly aware of their advantage over the Whigs in having a policy by which to stimulate their partisans. If Lord MELBOURNE now set up as a measure-carrying Minister, he may beat them nevertheless: but if not,—if the system of rubbing on any how should be continued after all excuse for it is gone,—then he might as well proclaim that he is indifferent about the result of the general election, and had better at once make room for a Premier capable of turning good fortune to account.