IMPOSSIBLE RESTORATION OF EARL GREY.
PRESSURE from without, and dissension within, are likely to work the speedy downfal of the WELLINGTON-PEEL Cabinet. It is therefore natural that public attention should be turned to those from whom the selection of another and more liberal Administra- tion must be made. The name of Lord MELBOURNE suggests itself first. The nation would willingly give him, what he has never had, "a fair trial." But men of some political shrewdness and foresight suspect that Earl Gm would he applied to by the Court, in preference to Viscount MELBOURNE. The application may be made—that is probable enough; but we are not of Mr. CHARLES GRANT'S opinion, that "the time is not far distant when the eyes of the Nation will again be turned towards" the retired Premier. Neither would any thing give us more surprise than to see the venerable nobleman resume a responsibility which he so solemnly renounced, for reasons which all who listened to him or read his last speech in Parliament (all save the coarse and hard- PRESSURE from without, and dissension within, are likely to work the speedy downfal of the WELLINGTON-PEEL Cabinet. It is therefore natural that public attention should be turned to those from whom the selection of another and more liberal Administra- tion must be made. The name of Lord MELBOURNE suggests itself first. The nation would willingly give him, what he has never had, "a fair trial." But men of some political shrewdness and foresight suspect that Earl Gm would he applied to by the Court, in preference to Viscount MELBOURNE. The application may be made—that is probable enough; but we are not of Mr. CHARLES GRANT'S opinion, that "the time is not far distant when the eyes of the Nation will again be turned towards" the retired Premier. Neither would any thing give us more surprise than to see the venerable nobleman resume a responsibility which he so solemnly renounced, for reasons which all who listened to him or read his last speech in Parliament (all save the coarse and hard- " I trust that in this painful statement—in this last scene of nay political " Gentlemen, there is another reflection, personally affecting Inc, which pre- the clergyman of a parish, also named G. M. Palmer, who seeing one of his gents itself, and which is perhaps to me the most gratifying of all. This tradesman of the name of Clark with the Reform colours in who, bat, told him to honour is not paid to a Minister newly raised to power, in the vigour of his send in his bill, and he would never deal with him again for a single fir- age, with a long career of active and useful service before him, and hailed as thing's worth. They need not travel far from Croydon to find many other the expected author of benefits not yet accomplished : it is paid to one who has gentlemen who had acted in a like disgraceful manner." descended—I will not say/dim—from power—to one whose official lift has In West Kent, according to Mr. Law HonnEs, gross intimida- ended, and whose lung Parliamentary career is hastening to its final close—
when the balance has been struck between Ids promises and his performance—
when the past is &flare his country for its judgment, and when the future, so In South Essex, the influence of the landowners was strenuously fin- as he is concerned, presents no objects either for hope or fear." exerted. A specimen of their mode of proceeding is furnished by This solemn leave-taking, this dignified winding-up of a long the writer of a letter to Mr. BRANFIL, the Liberal candidate, political life, was felt at the time to be highly appropriate and published in the Essex Mercury. worthy of the man. No one could have dreamed of his speedy " I am tenant to the late High Sheriff of the county, J. T. Selwyn, Esq., of Down Hall, Hatfield Broad Oak ; who has exerted himself with his tenants Teturn to power ; which would be as incongruous and lamentably to the utmost against you. I believe I am the only tenant who voted for you. absurd as the restoration of old Lear to his kingdom and happi- The consequence was, that on Saturday, the day after the election, he made to mess (in the stage version of SHARSPEARE), when, as has been all his tenants except myself a reduction of five per cent. on their half-year's finely observed, .‘ nothing was left him but:to die." rent. When I remonstrated with him upon the Impropriety of such conduct, The resumption of office by Earl GREY, could only be justified he told me that if I had not voted at all he would have given me the reduction. I wish you to observe, further, that this appears to be a preconcerted plan, for by the miraculous renovation of Isis physical and mental vigour, or his proper rent-day was a fortnight previous to the election. by such an alteration in public affairs as would render the task of " I am, Sir, &c. " F. Citarmx."
government comparatively easy to what it was last summer. In South Lancashire, the interference of the landlords was But as no one can pretend that Earl GREY has become younger, open and shameless. Not content with placing on the register ni neither can it be said that the " pressure from without " is less; vast numbers of their tenantry whose qualifications, according to that the Tories have become more friendly and powerless ; the Revising Barrister, would have been declared insufficient had or that Whiggism is beheld with more favour at Court. On they been inquired into, the gentry stood by to overawe them
the contrary, it is a fact that the late elections have made sad when voting. The Manchester Gurdian says— , havoc with the Juste-Milieu ; while the Movement and the Tories "Mr. Egerton, of Tatton, we understand, personally headed up his tenants, have both gained additional force. Every thing that annoyed and waited in the booth whilst they voted. The stewards of the Earl of Ear! GREY when in office before, exists to annoy him as much Wilton, of the High Sheriff, and of some other gentlemen, took a similar or more now ; while his power of resistance is diminished, and course. This was in Manchester. At Newton and Wigan, the thing was the leaning of the Sovereign and the Court faction to decided even grosser. At the former place, the Tory gentry of the vicinity stood in the
Toryism is no longer cloaked, but avowed, In spite of all this, we are aware it has been whispered that Earl GREY would have a strong motive to return to power, in his amiable solicitude to provide for his numerous family connexions.
Rut it is impossible. There is nothing to countenance, every Thing to rebut, such a calumnious imputation on the public and liberally private character of Earl GREY. He bestowed oflices rather too
on his kindred when Prime Minister; but he never made voting.
any sacrifice of consistency or public character to ob ffi
tain oce.
cian ; and is not likely to tarnish his latter days by grasping at th He has all his life been a straightforward and disinterested politi- office with the most unworthy views of personal profit, after he cess of the two Tory Baronets in the Southern division was surely bad put off his power, and closed his account, for ever. His lofty predicted, from the influence of their large property. and fine character, such as it was when the balance was struck, Norwich has for many years been infamous for corruption. It belongs to history,
Previous page
