A controversy, more lengthy than interesting, has been waged during
the week between the Chronicle and the Globe, with the occasional assistance of the Hcrahl and the Times, and a few side- hints from the Courier, on the somewhat threadbare topic of the abuse of Ministerial patronage. The complaints of the Chronicle are chiefly directed to tins Diplomatic department ; from which it • would have the whole of the Tory officials, supreme and subordi- nate, dismissed at one fell swoop, and their places supplied with.: decided Reformers. The Globe whines over the suffering to gentlemen who have served a long apprenticeship to the noble art" of lying for the good of their country, which such a general turn- out would occasion; and asks, with much simplicity, if a Tory is unworthy of being trusted because he is a Tory, and what effect the affirmative of such a proposition would produce on the estimate of the English character abroad? To the party in power, it is, we think, a sufficient reason, that these diplomatic gentry got their places for their politics, not for their aptitude; and the same principle that gave them place justifies their dismissal. To the public, the only sufficient reason for retaining a public servant, must be the honesty and talent with Which he discharges his duty. If the men of which the Chronicle complains do their duty ill, or not at all, they ought to be at once set about their business. But, we confess, instead of a change of men, we would much rather hear of a reduction. The number and expense of our Embassies are enough to make a meek man, like the Member for Dundalk, rise up and swear; and a pitiful one, like Lord ELDON, sit down and weep. What, in the name of wonder, • does Government learn, or what can they learn, from all the tag- rag of their ambassadors, now that posts, offices, and newspapers are in general use, that is not known to the whole world? We would undertake to manage the relations of England with Hol- land and Belgium and France, by the simple means of a file of Dutch, Netherlands, and French journals, as accurately at this our office in Wellington Street, as if we had the gift of Sir BOYLE RocriE's bird, and were residing in the Hague, in Brussels, and in Paris, at the same time, with an establishment of 25,0001. a year • in each of these capitals.
The complaints of Tory appointments are not limited to the Em- bassies and Foreign Countries. The Court of England is as much a source of vexation as that of Louis PHILIP. The Queen has constituted Sergeant TADDY and Sergeant MEREWETHER to be her Attorney and Solicitor-General, instead of Mr. J. WILLIAMS and Mr. PEPYS. The appointment, we understand, was made in such a way as to insult these latter gentlemen as grievously as possible. They did not even know of it when they went to the' Drawing-room on Monday ; and yet the commission was dated the 24th. Then again, Lord ASHBROOKE has been made First Lord of the Bedchamber, and Lord GREY'S three poor Peers follow this new appointment. Further, the King has appointed Colonel BOWATER his Equerry; and though Lieutenant-Colonel Fox is made an Aide-de-Camp, he gains nothing by the appointment,—which he owes, it is shrewdly suspected, more to relationship than party. All theie things-are grievous to be borne ; though they are borne,_ and we suppose must be; for a little longer.
The Queen's choice of two Anti-Reformer officers is at least fair and above board. We now know what we have to expect from her Majesty, and must of course act accordingly. For the rest, the .Reform Bill, we presume, will set all right that requires righting ; and till the Bill is ours, what is wrong must even re-. main so.
