THE NATURAL DECLINE OF WHIGDOM.
THE extinction of the Whig nobles, as a powerful party in the country, appears to be inevitable. Their intermediate position, not sympathizing with the masses yet aloof from the general body of the aristocracy, is not favourable for permanence. In the struggle which is going on between the two principles of repre- sentative government and oligarchical ascendancy, the Whigs will find it impossible to maintain neutrality : they must join the Conservatives or the Mevement, and consent to play a subordinate part, whichever side they choose. But, independently of the chances of political warfare, natural causes seem at work tobring about the downfal of the now tottering Whigs. In a few years, some of the largest estates in the country, which have enabled their possessors to make head against scores of pensioned and pauper Peers of PITT'S creation, will pass line Conservative hands, The present Lord MILTON is supposed to have Conservative tendencies; and the recent exhibitions of his once Liberal father do not encourage the expectation that he will chock them. The Earl of SURRY is regarded as a very lukewarm Whig ; and it is known that the Duke of NORFOLK has done mischief to the Mee- HOURNE Ministry by readiness to fly oft' on any demonstration of a Liberal character. But, putting out of sight the prospective or probable conversions of heirs of earldoms and dukedoms from Whigo.ery to Conservatism, let us turn to those which have aired; taken place. The Earldom of DERBY will in a few years be the present Lord STANLEY'S. The Marquisate of WESTMINSTER will fall to Earl GROSVENOR, B CRI'ETT'S active ally,—in former times a most un- willing and niggardly supporter of sham Liberalism, and now an avowed Tory. The Dukedom of CLEVELAND cannot lung be retained by its present possessor; and the Earl of DARLINGTON is a resolute Tory. The vast estates and extensive influence pos- sessed by the families of STANLEY, GROSVENOR, and VANE, will soon be transferred from the Whig to the Tory party ; and that the change will inflict "a heavy blow and great discouragement" on the former, nobody can doubt.
It is pleasant to know, that among the many faithless to the political principles of their progenitors, the heir of the Russeees remains firm to the Liberalism which has been, almost without
exception, the creed of his forefathers. In a letter to the editor of the Quarterly Review, the Marquis of TAVI STOCK declares that he is still, what he has always been, a Radical Reformer. Would that his junior brother could say as much ! that he who was so long recognized as the organ of the Reforming politics of his family—the worthy representative of the RUSSELLS as well as of the People, in the House of Cemmons—had not fallen from his high estate as leader of tbe Liberals, to-take a second placo:to PEEL in the muster of the Oligarchy !
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