670 The New Ministry. [JUNF? 



Then, apart from that which seemed, a fortnight ago, the possible folly 

 of the Catholics of Ireland who might, by an act of desperate folly, have 

 been led to draw their friends along with them into the pit, instead of giving 

 time to the latter to draw them out of it apart from this peril (which has 

 gone by), of the stability of the New Ministry we should find it diffi- 

 cult to entertain a doubt. 



For, unless we were to take in a Whig ministry entirely, which 

 would not be much more pleasing to the parties now in opposition than 

 the existing arrangement, where, if we dissolve the existing Adminis- 

 tration, is the country to look for another ? 



It can scarcely be supposed that Lord Eldon, and Mr. Peel, and 

 the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Westmoreland, would ever consent 

 to hold office with the present First Lord of the Treasury again. Their 

 going out, as it seems to us, has done nothing but honour to their public 

 principle and their private firmness. And the manner of it for as to the 

 motive there can be no question no doubt they would have sustained. 

 their policy, and remained in office, if they could have done so, and it 

 would be very new to impute any blame to them for such a desire the 

 manner of their secession has been most unfairly and scandalously mis- 

 represented. As regards the late Lord Chancellor in particular, the seces- 

 sion of that noble lord has served to shew, that however desirous he may 

 have been esteemed to hold his place that desire did not weigh with him 

 one moment, when his political honour and consistency seemed to demand 

 that he should resign it. But, still, for the high Tory party to come back 

 with Mr. Canning is hardly possible, and would be hardly creditable ; and 

 of the high Tory party, without his assistance, it would scarcely be possible 

 to form an administration which should satisfy the country. Mr. Canning 

 is the best minister of business that the political circles of the day can 

 furnish. We do justice to the talents of Lord Eldon, but he is a disciple 

 of a school of politics that has gone by ; and that which is hardly less to 

 the purpose his lordship could hardly remain a great while longer avail- 

 able for public duties. The Duke of Wellington, we believe, has been 

 most unfairly judged of we are sure that he has been most unfairly spoken 

 of touching both his personal character and his claims upon the country. 

 The affected depreciation which has appeared in some quarters of the noble 

 duke's talents, we hold to be absurd ; the obloquy that has been attempted 

 to be cast upon his feelings and motives in his late secession, is mean and 

 ungenerous. We think that he has a title if ever any man had, or could 

 have one to speak, and in direct terms, of the services that he has rendered 

 to this country ; but we do not think he could have filled the place of 

 Lord Liverpool. In fact, the duke himself, we suspect, if we had the 

 means of knowing his feelings, will be pretty nearly of this opinion ; and 

 we rely most confidently that he will never allow his opposition to go one 

 point beyond that which he believes to be for the public advantage. It 

 has been asked, by those who are hostile to the new administration, 

 " Could Mr. Canning, if a war should arise, after what has happened, 

 expect the Duke of Wellington to accept employment ?" We feel certain, 

 not only that Mr. Canning, or any other minister for the time being, might 

 expect this but we are sure that he would not be disappointed. The 

 Duke of Wellington will not fail to recollect, that, if he has some share of 

 political and personal attack to complain of, yet still, in the main, ample 

 and liberal justice has been done him by the country. Honours, and 

 wealth, and offices have descended upon him, not in greater profusion than 



