THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS.
THE present Government know the use of earnest-money; and with considerable craft, have begun already to move in little. ameliorations. They are to throw open the Regent's Park to the public by quarter-day ; they have set to work on the new road from Waterloo Bridge to Bow Street, with as much energy as if they were forming a causeway for military communications in time of war ; and they are stirring themselves to get rid of some unfair privileges which University degrees conferred upon candidates for the bar. These, indeed, are not great matters; and, involving. no question of party principle or of party profit, should rather be looked at as cunning tricks—as sprats thrown to catch mackerels —than be received as evidence of a liberal spirit. But though small in themselves, and ridiculous as a test of principles, they certainly are improvements, and improvements which come more immediately home to the little snug conveniences or interests of many people than measures of greater magnitude. In the mean time, the Tory press does not allow their lights to be hidden under a bushel ; whilst the business-like rapidity with which the reforms have been set about, contrasts favourably with the lazy fastidious- ness and gentlemanly do-nothingness of some of the late Whig officials, who might have accomplished these things before the Tories came in. The moral of this, addressed to Reforiners of all grades, is—not to neglect small matters which they can accomplish, because they are intent upon greater things whose success is less assured. The House of Lords or the Court may oppose large measures ; but the mere will of Government can always effect many administrative reforms which tell well upon the people, either as showing a dis- position to do all the good possible, or as advantageously affecting sections of the public.
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