Rumours of Ministerial changes are rife in Whig - Radical coteries, and
are seriously discussed in Conservative newspapers. No doubt of there heing a prodigious quantity of' political intrigue on foot. Busy Members, both of the gobe-monche and the scheming sort, imagine the present to be a propitious time for making " fresh terms" with the present iiieii, or " Liberalizing" the personnel of the Administration. They were mute and meek while the Ministe- rial flue was in their hands : when—if at all—they had the power to impose advantageous conditions of support, they would not for the world take a step to make the Government uneasy. Now that the " crisis " is past, and Ministers possess indubitable evidence that l'Ent, will not turn them out, the wise ones are putting their heads together and concocting notable schemes for the advancement of Reform. Well, any reform they can procure for us, we shall thank- fully receive, be it ever so small : we only stipulate that the thing offered shall be real—not a measure (hr rejection on the "pear-ripen- ing, House-of-Lords-bombarding" principle, or some fragment of a system of Reform, which by itself cannot be carried, by reason of its insufficiency to combine the suflisiges and exertions of the nation. There would be little difficulty, we imagine, in procuring a pro- mise from Ministers to propose some measure, which might serve as an excuse to the place-seeker, and the gullible gentlemen who have so long trudged after Lord JOHN RUSSELL with uplifted hands and open mouths, for continuing their support. While the hope of prevailing upon the existing Ministry to move onwards a little, occupies, and perhaps deludes, one class, another is employed in suggesting improvements in the personal com- position of the Cabinet. With these, a DURHAM-NORMANBY, or rather a NORMANBY-DURHAM Administration, is a favourite project ; and it has been buzzed about, till it would seem that the Tories arc alarmed lest it should actually be realized. The Mins/- lag Post and the Standard assure their readers that Lord DURHAM is engaged in dark plots for the overthrow of the Cabinet and for his own advancement. Now we, much mystified, have made some inquiries on this head ; and our veritable information is, that Lord DuanAsi is quiescent, not moving a step in the described direction—his thoughts, unfortunately, having been far more oc- cupied by domestic than by public cares. We wish there were any near prospect of Lord DunnAses accession to a" Liberalized" Cabinet ; but none is discernible. As for Lord NORMAN BY'S wishes and schemes, they may be correctly stated in the Conservative papers, for any thing we know ; but there is reason to suspect that our Tory contemporaries have been induced to attach more importance than it merits to idle Whig-Radical talk. There is little cause for their alarm: " Finality" is not in imminent danger ; and knowing this, the Conservative Whigs will not yet accept the Times' invitation to break off the Whig-Radical alliance and form a junction with WELLINCITON and PEEL.
Amidst all this fuss for " men, not measures," the Morning Chro- vide, which slackened fire and made holyday to celebrate the great victory of "the crisis," resumed on Tuesday its series of broadsides on Progressive Reform. Ability and eloquence characterized the writing, as before ; but it was remarked, that a present instalment, instead of a full payment, was insisted on,—as if in consequence of a sudden conversion to the notion that the concession of the Ballot alone would unite the Liberals, and become a sufficient basis for a new combination and the restoration of public confidence in the Liberal leaders. The Globe immediately detected the important difference, and animadverted on the "levity with which sonic politicians will make the most unreasonable requirements, with the most direful denunciations, if these, at least, are not granted, and then drop down at once to a third of their urgent demands." :No explanation was given by the ..-I/orning Chronicle ; but yester- day, Lord DuunAm's name was declared to be "powerful because it is associated with an extended Suffrage, shorter Parliaments, and the protection of the Ballot." So we presume that, after a temporary pause, the Morning Chronicle returns to the enforce- ment of his entire aide-crisis doctrines : the which steadfastly holding, may lie always prosper. The Globe itself continues the fair representative of the Govern- ment ; being avowedly Conservative in tone and principle,—which is far preferable to the dishonest and maudlin Radicalism of some other journals. There is no reason to infer from the Globe that any intention or inclination exists in the more influential, if not the most numerous section of the Cabinet, to pacify its Radical sup- porters by conceding one tittle of what is called their "Finality."
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