THE MINISTRY, THE ARISTOCRACY, AND THE PKOPLE. 249 



payers seeks to throw off its own burden, by rendering it impossible 

 to collect the tax of which it complains, the machinery of government 

 can no longer be carried on, and our national credit, the former basis 

 of our national prosperity being overthrown, all classes will groan 

 under evils, compared to which the most oppressive tax would appear 

 light arid easy. It is, indeed, the imperative duty of the government 

 and the legislature, to endeavour to place our taxation upon the most 

 fair and equitable system; but this must be a work of time and diffi- 

 culty, and it is a work which will never be accomplished, if the peo- 

 ple are determined to extort, at any price, the immediate repeal of 

 every obnoxious tax. Let the country learn to exercise a little pa- 

 tience, and as neither the present administration, nor the present par- 

 liament, is destined to be eternal, let it remember that its matured 

 opinion must be listened to at no distant period, and that those are 

 its worst enemies, who, by violent and revolutionary proceedings, 

 would oppose an effectual barrier to all rational Reform, and involve 

 the nation in speedy anarchy and ultimate ruin. 



Even the most zealous supporters of the Grey administration, are 

 compelled to admit that its present position is a very critical and un- 

 certain one, and little doubt can be entertained that its possession of 

 office would be of very short duration, did there exist the materials 

 for the formation of a new government, which might command the 

 confidence of the country. But the most ardent, if judicious, 

 Reformer would hesitate to do any thing which might hasten on the 

 dissolution of the present cabinet, for although he may consider that 

 cabinet unfit to meet the exigences of the times, and replace the fu- 

 ture policy of the country upon a firm and stable foundation, he sees 

 110 prospect of supplying the place of the present ministry, with ano- 

 ther better fitted to accomplish the object. One would imagine that 

 even the Tories themselves must, under existing circumstances, admit 

 that their acceptance of office would be an act of inconceivable mad- 

 ness and infatuation; but whatever they may think, a vast majority 

 of the people would regard such an event, as the greatest calamity 

 which could befall the country, and as little else than the signal for 

 revolution. While we believe that radical principles are making 

 very rapid progress amongst the middle and working classes, we are 

 at the same time convinced, that the Radicals, as a party, possess no 

 hold upon the country, and are generally regarded with mingled 

 feelings of contempt and distrust, arising from their want of able and 

 experienced leaders; and from the dissention which they too often 

 display to adopt a revolutionary policy, in order to gain some tempo- 

 rary object. In a word, although the present administration may 

 admit of partial alterations, its entire dissolution might be attended 

 with the most dangerous consequences; and therefore however much 

 it has disappointed the expectations of the people, there prevails a 

 general conviction that it must be allowed the benefit of a second 

 trial, and of an opportunity to repair its past errors in a second ses- 

 sion of parliament. We trust that ministers are now aware of their 

 real situation, and that taught by the bitter experience of the last 

 four months, they will henceforth act with greater firmness arid 

 vigour, and regard it as their first duty and best interest, to secure 



M.M. No. 93. 2 K 



