NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THERE are rumours of change, or discussions tending towards change, in the Cabinet of England, that, with all our recollections of the last twelve months, we cannot dismiss as utterly groundless, though the statements are neither derived from authoritative sources of intelligence, nor even very definite in their form and bearing.
One of the reports is, that Lord Grey is to join the present Ministry. It is much more probable that a negotiation is going on for the return of Mr. Huskisson ; but even this, together with the alleged necessity out of which it arises—Mr. Peel's incompetence io manage the House of Commons without the assistance of Mr. Huskisson and his friends—is stoutly denied by some of the high Tory journals.
An amicable species of difference, though since adjusted, is said to have arisen between the Duke of Wellington and Mr. Peel—on that lasting source of all dissension in the British Government, the Catholic question. The tale runs thus—the Home Secretary offered to resign, rather than stand in the way of the plans im- puted to the Duke ; and the Prime Minister, on the other hand, expressed his willingness to return to the Army, rather than suffer the country to lose the services of the Home Secretary. In that case the Premiership was to be conferred on—Lord Sidmouth.
Such is the Herald's gossip. The following paragraph from the Times of this morning merits weightier consideration, from the nature of the announcement and the strength of the terms em- ployed in conveying it.
" We have the very strongest reasons for attributing to the Duke of Wellington a fixed determination to introduce a bill for the relief of the Catholics in the ensuing session. We announce this, and we stand to it as our firm conviction, founded on intelligence from a quarter alike inca- pable of being deceived itself and of deceiving others. We have, further, sufficient ground for believing, that an active negotiation
W otiation is now in pro- gress between the Duke of Wellington and Mr.Peel, with a view to ar- range whatever difference may have resulted from their opposite, or at least separate feelings, towards a question upon which the sentiments of the highest Personage in the realm are Now in accordance with those of his first Minister."
The Morning Journal affects to believe that Earl Grey would not join the Duke of -Wellington even for the sake of the Catho- lics. Whether Lords Sidmouth, Salisbury, and Lowther are to have efficient places, remains unsettled, or at least unknown. The office of Privy Seal is still vacant. If, as the Standard says, the new arrangements are to be completed before next Council-meet- ing, it will not be long before all doubts are solved.
