242 THE MINISTRY, THE ARISTOCRACY, AND THE PEOPLE. 



public opinion, and who is not wilfully blind to the signs of the 

 times, can fail to admit, that there exist throughout every part of the 

 country, a strong, and daily encreasing feeling, in favour of those 

 practical reforms, by which the burdens of the people may be light- 

 ened, and the institutions of the state, purified from those abuses 

 which impair their efficiency, and alienate from them, the respect, 

 and affections of the people. It is, at the same time, scarcely less 

 evident, that there exists a strong and powerful party, which views 

 with suspicion and dislike, the progress of democratic opinions, and 

 which is at direct variance, with the majority of the people, in re- 

 gard to those great and interesting questions, connected with our 

 domestic policy ; the discussion and settlement of which, cannot be 

 much longer delayed, with prudence, or even with safety. The 

 people are, however inadequately, at least to a certain extent, repre- 

 sented in the House of Commons ; and the Conservative or Anti- 

 reforming party, undoubtedly, possesses a great majority in the 

 House of Lords ; ministers therefore, finding themselves placed, not 

 only between two parties, but between two branches of the Legis- 

 lature, have, during the present session of parliament, endeavoured 

 to introduce measures, which might satisfy the one, without deeply 

 offending the other ; but, as usually happens in such cases, they 

 have utterly failed in their object, and while they have not advanced 

 a single step, in abating the hostility, and conciliating the favour of 

 the Conservatives, they have, in the vain attempt to do so, disgusted 

 many of their best friends, and nearly lost that which was the firmest 

 foundation of their power, the confidence of the middle classes of the 

 country. In casting a rapid glance, on the chief events, which have 

 distinguished our domestic history, during the last six or seven 

 months, our great object will be, to illustrate the position in which 

 ministers are placed, in relation to the people and the aristocracy ; 

 and to point out, to the best of our ability, the injurious effects which 

 have resulted, not only to themselves, but to the country, from the 

 conduct which they have pursued, in consequence of the position. 



Every man, of ordinary understanding and foresight, clearly dis- 

 cerned, that the success of the Reform Bill, would prove only the 

 commencement, instead of the termination, of ministerial difficulties ; 

 and that the assembling of the Reformed Parliament, in the then ex- 

 isting circumstances of the country, might well fill with apprehension, 

 the most experienced and able statesmen. The excitement which pre- 

 vaild, during the agitation of the Reform- question, had diffused 

 throughout the country, many wild and extravagant hopes, which could 

 never be realized ; and, perhaps, even the rational and well-informed 

 portion of the community, indulged exaggerated expectations, of the 

 benefit to be derived from the Reform Bill. The indefatigable effort 

 of the Press, and the progress of political knowledge, had for ever torn 

 aside the veil which concealed from public observation, the internal 

 working of the constitution, and the general sense of the country 

 loudly expressed itself, in opposition to the abuses, which disgraced 

 the administration of government. The call for an extensive, and 

 radical Reform, was loud and almost universal ; and every class of 

 the community, labouring under many difficulties, and privations, 



