By the death of good Dr. Howley, the Archbishopric of
Can- terbury is vacant and in the gift of Ministers. Two Bishoprics and two Archbishoprics within less than six months, form a com- bination of luck in patronage such as Cabinets seldom enjoy ; and the stirring question, how- will the Whigs usetheir present oppor- tunity, almost makes people, especially those who have "hopes," forget a tribute of regret for the respectable Prelate who has de- parted. A rather general notion is, that Lord John Russell will continue in his Anti-Tractarian direction ; but we have observed that Lord John, after a particularly " bold " display, is wont to retreat upon his laurels, and cultivate a little repute in the way of discretion. Most likely, he will either recoil upon some decidedly Ts.aetarian choice-, or he will make no spontaneous and active choice at all, but leave the selection to the conflict of those personal influences which are already assiduously engaged in canvassing. The choice least to be expected, is that which would unite the highest intellectual eminence with the other appropri- ate qualities for guiding and ruling the National Church, in cir- cumstances of unusual difficulty and some danger.
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