Mr. Chaplin has attained the object of his ambition, having
been on Thursday appointed Minister for Agriculture, with a seat in the Cabinet. He, of course, gives up or lays aside his Protectionist views, and will probably devote himself princi- pally to the collection of statistics, the diffusion of informa- tion from abroad, and the " consideration " of suggestions. We expect but little direct good from the appointment, but it conciliates a very large body of opinion, and can do no harm, except by crowding the Cabinet. We regard that as a great evil, as a secret Executive Committee ought not to become a little Senate; but it is said that one of the present Ministers, probably the Dake of Rutland, will retire. Some day or other we hope the Cabinet will be remodelled and reduced to ten; but the pressure of the " interests " de- manding representation is at present too strong. The Cabinet, too, we fancy, seldom interferes in Executive acts if the Premier, the leader of the Lower House, and the Minister of the department immediately responsible, all agree. A Com- mittee of three can do work.
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