3 JANUARY 1852, Page 5

The war between the partisans and the censors of our

late Fo- reign Secretary has not yet led to 'anything more than desultory skirmishes. Nothing conclusive or authentic is to be expected till the meeting of Parliament. Indeed, reports have been spread that even then there will be no formal explicit explanation on either side. It Seems incredible, however, that so important a change in the constitution of the Cabinet can pass without inquiry. It is also apparent that it is determined in various quarters to make the change a pretext for Parliamentary agitation. Lord Palmerston may be disposed—though this is not very likely—to submit with- out a murmur or struggle to be relegated to a private station; but if he do, it will not be for want of being tempted to " show fight." Indirect overtures are made to him, by expressions of indignant sym- pathy from the moat heterogeneous allies. Alarmists on the score of Romanist aggression invite him to stand forth as the champion of Protestantism ; Protectionists hint that the vacant office of leader in the crusade for metering the Corn-law is open for his acceptance; and Some sanguine Radicals appear not indisposed to see in him the " coming man " who is to establish democratic ascendancy. Lord Palmerston is too old and experienced a politician to be caught by any of these offers ; but there is another pressure that will be brought to bear upon A Minister who has been in the habit of strengthening his position by conciliating numerous per-

sonal partisans, contracts obligations to his instruments, from which it is not always easy to relieve himself. His relation to them is akin to that which the superstition of our grandfathers be- lieved to exist between witches and their subservient imps : their compact, it was understood, could only be dissolved by common consent, and witches were obliged to retain and exercise their mischievous powers even against their will. It is not impossible that some of the ardent advocacy of Lord Palmerston in the press may have been obtruded upon him without asking his consent.

A semi-official announcement of the policy to which Ministers are resolved to adhere in our foreign relations, which has appeared in an evening paper, is calculated to allay any honest apprehen- sion of British compromise with despotic .principles. Our Govern- ment, it is intimated, will continue to aim at the maintenance of peace ; to afford the moral support of England to countries in which constitutional governments have been established; and to respect the national institutions of all countries, whatever their form or character may be.