NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Ix spite of early appearances, Ministers have not lost any English or Scotch seat—not even that one in England which was supposed to be imperilled ; but they have sustained a species of check in Ireland; and although the mere fact of a check is to be regretted so far as it is important, it will not be without its use in pointing the moral that we have already interpreted in the attitude of what we must perforce call the Irish Opposition. That Opposition is threefold : it consists of the extreme Anti-English party, the relics of Young Ireland and O'Connellism, intolerant of any rule but their own ; of the Ultramontane party, scorning all compromise ; and of the high Conservative party, jealous of every advance towards Repealers or Papists. The loss of a seat like that for Carlow, where so few were polled, does not indicate the opinion of the masses; and the opposition of the factions that we have men- tioned cannot be regarded as formidable, unless the desire to coun- teract it by means too much savouring of Irish intrigue should lead the Government into false alliances. Some of the more Conserva- tive politicians, who view their proceedings with jealous apprehen- sion rather than prejudiced dislike, have noticed the activity of the priests in elections for those smaller eionstituencies—have observed the domineering activity of a M'Hale—have marked the visit of an eminent priest at" the Castle," followed by his pronouncement in favour of the Government candidate ; and have augured from such signs as these, that the administration through Irish faction, from which during his short career Lord Eglinton was supposed to have broken free, is to be renewed when the colleagues of Peel and Clarendon return to office. The conduct of the election at Carlow will show how impracticable certain factions are ; and the tone of the extreme oppositionists may usefully remind Ministers that it is not safe for English statesmanship to descend to the low Irish level. We do not forget, indeed, that those who govern a country must govern it through the influences which actually ex- ist in that country ; and we know that influential Irishmen, of whatsoever party, race, creed, or vocation, must be accepted as the influential in their own land : but a knowledge of the danger in- evitable in the mere act of governing Ireland may tend to mitigate its mischievous results.
The English seat that was imperilled, that for Oxford University, has been secured to the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; after a fif- teen-days poll, gradually creeping up by daily driblets, and not materially altering the relative position since the middle of last week. The contest, therefore, has been fruitless for those who provoked it ; except, perhaps, that they may be able to console themselves by its having inflicted wounds on both sides, the ran- cour of which will not,be healed.
