SIR ROBERT PEEL, SICK AND SLY.
We have the pleasure to state that Sir II. Peel is recovering from a severe attack of rheumatism. The right honourable Baronet was able yesterday and the day preceding to take an airing in his carriage, but he is not expected to attend Parliament again during the present session.—Standard of Thursday.
Is there a regular "break up" in the PES,L constitution? Mr. WILLIAM YATES PEEL is said to retire from Parliament on ac- count of ill-health; Mr. EDMUND PREr. is too gouty to think of enduring the fatigue of another session; and Sir ROBERT has first sciatica, and then rheumatism.
Uncharitable people surmise that the PEELS are not so ill as they say they are. Mr. Emmen PEEL has alrcady paid dearly for his senatorial honours. Newcastle is, and always has been, a terribly expensive place to contest. Mr. YATES PEEL was pa quite so snug in Tamworth as he might have been if Sir ROBERT woulh have taken the most approved methods of converting Tam- worth into a rotten borough. But Sir ROBERT thinks he does enough for his party as it is ; he looks carefully at the amount of every check before he signs it; is not forward in making abate- ments of rent; dislikes the sight of deductions on account of repairs; has by far too sincere a regard for the morals of the people to think of encouraging excess of any kind; and always gets money's worth for his money. We venture to say, that when his friends dined with him to bear the speech on ins policy as Premier, the landlord's profit on the wine and viands was mode- rate. Now, if the Tamworth electors are not to have the profits of snbsemiency, surely they are wise in recurring to their old cry of " Townshend and Independence." Have we guessed rightly the cause of Mr. YATES PEEL'S retirement, and the origin of the present contest in Tamworth?
We hope Sir ROBERT is not so ill as he is represented to be : and we are the more inclined to think that his rheumatism has not been very severe, because, it' certain whispers are to be believed, his presence in Parliament, and his activity anywhere just now, would tend to mar some very nice arrangements in prospectu, the result of which would be a union of the " friends of order and the Queen" against the impracticable men of principle at the extre- mities of the Liberal and Tory camps. Sir ROBERT'S part is to keep quiet, and watch the result of the elections. Ile will be ready to take advantage of new combinations. Ile may join the Whigs ; he may outbid the Whigs for Radical support; he may have a Tory majority—who knows ? There are several chances for him on the cards, and he waits to see whether the trumps will not fall into his own hand. So he has a very severe attack of rheumatism.
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