6 FEBRUARY 1864, Page 1

Mr. Disraeli, like Lord Desby, indulged in his speech on

the Address in a tone of bitter sarcasm. His point was that Her Majesty's Government had come down to the House without a policy to produce, that it was trusting too entirely to the wisdom of Parliament, and on this point he planted one savage but thoroughly well-deserved blow. "It is only recently we have been reminded, not by the noble lord, but by writers whom he recog- nizes as great masters of the English language, that affairs are car- ried on in a very satisfactory way as far as the House of Commons is concerned ; that the great departments are principally repre- sented by Under Secretaries ; that nobody much cares what they say or what they do (laughter) ; and that the relations between the Government and the House of Commons are fast drawing to that satisfactory condition which subsists between members of the French Chambers and their master. (Cheers). Humiliate us if you like, degrade us if we must submit to it ; but, at any rate, do not call on us to bear responsibility. (Loud cheers.)" The expres- sions quoted are from the Times, and similar statements will, before long, tempt the House into a strong censure on Lord Palmeraton's

habit of confining administrative power to his own order. It is bad enough to be governed by dukes, but to be told that we ought to be governed by them alone is simply insufferable.