TO LORD MELBOURNE.
A FRIENDLY voice addresses Lord MELHOURNE-"It iS not yet too late. The existence of the party, of which you are the head, yet depends on yourself. That party is dispirited, 'and all but dis- united ; but there is a course of action by which you might revive its hopes, and render firmer than ever the union by which it sub- sists. Some of your friends arc too apt to follow Tory example:
here is a proper occasion for taking a lesson from the Tories. Mark their confident, their almost triumphant bearing! Whence does it arise ?—from their having steadily pursued, for the greater part of the present session, a course which was well calculated to break up the Whig-Radical union. What they have done, points out what you ought to do. It behoves you to restore that feeling in the country which has enabled you and your Whig friends to lead the national party. What was that feeling ?—it was a belief that, by means of a Whig-Radical union, the Whigs might be able to carry the Reform Bill to its necessary consequences. This faith is fast dying away. How may it be revived and strengthened? No- thing would he more easy if you had the necessary disposi- tion. Let us imagine you to be so disposed : in that case what would you do ? You would hold firmly to every part of those proposals of Reform which have been, or are about to be, rejected by the Tory Lords. You would declare that you were ready to pro- mote Peerage Reform, rather than that all Reforming legis- lation should be stopped. You would open the Cabinet to men who are pledged to vote for amendments of the Suffrage, Ballot, and Triennial Parliaments. By this last step, satisfactory proof would be given that you were really inclined to follow up the great revolution of 1831-2, to its inevitable consequence—re- ponsible government. Perhaps you would do well to give direc- tion to your organs of the press, that they should not put forth
nonsense. But let that pass7-a sufficient test of your wi-h to
maintain the Whig-Radical union, and to pursue the principles of the Reform Bill, would be given by opening the questions of Suffrage, Ballot, and Triennial Parliaments. That single fact would at once render your Cabinet more popular than ever, revive the hopes and energies of the masses, and defeat at a blow the present tactics of the Tories. At all events, preserve that Whig-
Radical union which has been the basis of your Administration. Let that be always your leading principle and then we may safely trust to " the chapter of accidents" for the rest. Come what may, a firm union of all Reformers must have its own course. Here then is a plan, simple in its nature, easy of exe- cution, and certain to prove successful. But there is no time to lose. If you hesitate, however well disposed,—if you are guided, or rather tied down, to a do-nothing plan by the poorest spirits that come near you,—the game is up. In conclusion, we respect- fully, and with a sincere hope that you may be wise in time, beg leave to refer you to the preceding article:'
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