The Honourable Frederick Lygon has exchanged Tewkesbury for West Worcestershire,
where he was elected on Monday unopposed. lie seized the opportunity to make a severely virtuous speech en political principle, especially with reference to Lord Pal- merston, who " had done more to degrade and demoralize public opinion than any other statesman." Considering that Mr. Lygon is still a follower of Mr. Disraeli, this is remark- able language. Lord Palmerston has at least clung tenaciously to one or two manly political feelings, and one or two fixed ideas, —dislike of the ballot, hatred to the slave trade, fear of French influence iu Syria, antipathy to the Suez Canal. We are not aware that any weaknesses of this kind can be attributed to Mr. Disraeli ; but Mr. Lygon is something of a political prig, who probably wished to show his own severe Conservatism, and only chose Lord Palmerston as his foil. He objected to Lord Palmer- ston because he was a mere political weather-glass, showing the state of public opinion. We have no profound admiration for Lord Palmerston, but it does at least require greater susceptibility I of mind than Mr. Lygon can at all appreciate, to enter into the phases of public feeling. An automaton has no difficulty in being conservative ; and might even, perhaps, be so constructed as to rise to order, like the Honourable Mr. I .ygon, when the standing orders are not perfectly complied with.
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