NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THERE are indications that the question of " opening the ports " —that is, abolishing the remaining duty on corn—has been dis- cussed in the Cabinet and decided in the negative. Divers jour- nals that support the Ministry busied themselves, about the middle of the week, in showing that there is no real necessity for the measure : that there is no lack of supplies for England ; that prices for wheat may continue to rise from 60s. to 70s., but that they will assuredly fall back again within three months ; and altogether it is found out that the measure would be quite super- fluous. " Cui bono ? " asks a leading Ministerialist. Another journal, once the chief Whig in the press, speaks of the supposed determination in a tone of regretful censure. In the absence of specific information, the decision of the Cabi- net must be regarded as a reassurance on the score of supplies for the winter. It is to be presumed that Ministers have made them- selves masters of the attainable knowledge on the subject, and know quite well that the " opening of the ports" is needless. On the face of it, such a measure would be reasonable enough in a' time of scarcity; but if not necessary it would in fact be impo- litic, since nothing but necessity could warrant an unsettlement of the law, with+11 the risk of a Protectionist reaction. On the other hand, if it were done at all, it ought to be done at once, without vacillati or delay. Every calculation of expediency and policy would ictate a prompt and bold course. We assume, therefore, that Al' esters have satisfied themselves that the mea- sure is unnecessa that the proposition is not merely postponed, but absolutely nag Lived.
