The surprise created by the new Eastern appointments was at
once a rebuke and an encouragement to Ministers. The Earl of The surprise created by the new Eastern appointments was at once a rebuke and an encouragement to Ministers. The Earl of
Dalhousie is to lie the Governor-General of India; Sir Henry Pottinger, Governor of Madras ; Sir Harry Smith succeeds Sir Henry as Chief Governor at the Cape of Good Hope. Sir Henry Pottinger is at home in India. Sir Harry Smith has earned pro- motion ; though it remains to be seen whether civil employment
will suit his genius. The Earl has a reputation for capacity in statesmanship and official business, which raises the highest ex-: pectations from the brilliant opportunity now offered to him. The principal appointment is less remarkable for its in- trinsic merits than for the circumstances under which it is made. It appears to be a graceful and judicious depatture from mere routine or mere party trammels. A contemporary has augured from the selection of Lord Dalhousie that there is
to be a coalition : without expecting any distinct consequence of that kind, we cannot overlook the fact that it must powerfully, tend to draw what have hitherto been separate parties closer to- gether; to remove from between them prejudices that keep up separation and estrangement; to enable them to review public affairs on common ground, take counsel together, and cooperate for the public good.
