Our leading W14008 have been .twice in public of late;
at the Guildhall, on .the classic Ninth of November; and at the dinner of the SaltersLtoinpany, on Wednesday., . We have else-. where expressed our vie* of the speech of the French Ambassa- dor. It told, as far as it went, but almost' every one -aftel• hearing it and reading it, felt that something had been oinitted. That something was a reference to the future European policy of the _French Emperor. 'It is a striking omissionin:a. speech from; one who :came all the *ay. froth-, Paris expressly to deliver-a-
statement-intended to soften the heart and destroy, the suspicions of the obdurate (inking us.. But, there stands the fact. Count
de Persigny-inade.a. speech solely referring to -the relations be- tween England and France, When' he was expected to make a speech of wider range. Blessed are, they who expect nothing. for they shill not be disappointed Our etyn Ministers have not been so reticent. Lord Palmerston, at the Guildhall,' .ga.eo-.. gent reasons for, the organization Of_ our niilitarY. and naval, re,— sources on a large scale, and at the Salters' Company he brushed away the'' cobwebs of gossip which spoke of differences in the : Cabinet by nobly praising:Lord Jobu_Russell for the nprightnese and dignity with which lie conducts the affairs of his 'deport-
ment. .We do not believe there has been , any conspiracy
tO oust Lord John from the Cabinet, as •a writer in the Daily News, perhaps from personal experience in the signs
of conspiracies, -boldly avers ; but there has been of late a decided set made against. Lord John Russell not war- ranted by anything he has done. Lord Palmerston's eulogy,
we admit, destroys the intrigue' if intrigue there were.' in the same hall Lord John, though not expressly, vindiCated his famous despatch of October 27, and nobly adVoeated the right of the Italians to ;adopt, measures conducive to their.freedom,
based en.principles which scenic& ours: Altogether the Cahn:let has been much strengthened bY,the recent public appearanoes.of its Members. The Duke of Newcastle, against whom, as -the writer in our contemporary, probahly knoWs, . there was some-
thing like a conspiracy in 1854, his raised his 'reputation by the g.00cl-sense:and'Iiiabliness of, his conduct- in the United States-.
LordTalinerston has tested his popularity in Yorkshire; 'and his shown his , tact and 1tieh sturdiness by his speeches in the City. Lord John' Russell has gained far More than he lms lost by writing that despatet tif Oetober'/7, for he 'has won the
hearts ettlie wade, while he has only bet the good word of cynics and doctrinaires. Mr. :Gladstone, the' most unpopular, of all the Cabinet, although he has roused liostility. by his high- handed dealing with the Income-tax, has .made good sonic lost ground by his speech at Chester, and his 'ample retoguition'Of the Volunteer army as essential to defence.
Colonel M`Murdo's statements at the--SaLtera'litner respecting: the efficiency of the Volunteers arc. very satisfactory ; bftt ire hold to our point, that ..tlie,Ifolunteers ciimpt be regarded, ink a force on which we can perfectly rely, -nntil'officers are appointed because they are men of a. to beetatte efd-
m ; ••'
eat captains, and not because they are persons of, a, certain social standing and friendi of the commanding officer. The same remark applies td non-commissioned officers, who are 'just as loosely promoted.
