250 The Opening of the Session of Parliament. [MARCH, 



evil. But the ministry by which this distress cannot be counteracted, 

 acknowledges its own unfitness for its trust, and ought to be removed. 



The Debates which have already occurred, shew the feeling of the 

 country. On the first night, the whole power of the minister could not 

 bring forward more than 158 members in the Commons. The address 

 was carried by a trifling majority ; though it is almost an etiquette that 

 it should give rise to neither a debate nor a division. In the Lords, a 

 division was called for by Lord Stanhope, evidently against the wish of the 

 Noble opposition, who reverence etiquette more than their contemporaries 

 in the lower House. The division was of course, in point of numbers, 

 merely nominal, and for the purpose of avoiding a slight to Lord Stan- 

 hope. Yet, even in that division, appeared names of formidable im- 

 port : the Dukes of Cumberland, Newcastle and Richmond. 



A committee of eleven has been appointed for the India question ; on 

 which however there is no probability of a decision. Yet we draw no 

 conclusion from Lord Ellenborough's elephant letter. His Lordship 

 writes with an easy pen, and was probably more engaged with some 

 new pattern of pantaloons, or some exquisite cosmetic, at the time than 

 his billet doux to Sir John Malcolm. Yet even Lord Ellenborough him- 

 self might be the " tame elephant between the two wild ones," and be 

 unconciously trained on between the premier and his friend Sir George 

 Murray, to say what might answer the purpose of two personages who 

 have played many a ruse before now. His Lordship's letter declares, 

 for it is nonsense to say that it has any other meaning, that the India 

 charter is to be renewed. The declaration comes out under circum- 

 stances which make us conclude the direct contrary. And if the letter 

 shall serve to lull the vigilance of the Company, it will have effected at 

 least as much as any penmanship of poor Lord Ellenborough's could 

 ever hope to do. The remainder of the debates have been busied about 

 motions of such persons as Sir Robert Wilson (who is not yet a general), 

 of Lord Holland, who will never be Secretary of State, and of Lord 

 Palmerston, whom the Princess Lieven's most ardent influence has 

 failed of making prime minister. Mr. Huskission, who is not yet 

 Secretary for the colonies, had made several speeches on the popular 

 distress, to the existence of which he has pledged himself, with the 

 happiest oblivion of his opinions six months ago. The stock question 

 of East Retford has been talked over again for the fiftieth time, and the 

 representative glories of Birmingham extinguished by 126 to 99. 

 While such models of patriotic wisdom engross the public ear, we may 

 congratulate the premier on his security from all the " natural shocks" 

 that place is heir to. But this kind of debating must have an end ! 

 The country looks for something more from its representatives ! There 

 are the elements of an irresistible opposition in the legislature ; and if 

 they are not inclined to act there, they are likely to be summoned to a spe- 

 cies of action, which we would as sincerely deprecate as the most luxurious 

 sinecurist who ever smiled over an order on the treasury. The national 

 feeling is deeply dyed with scorn ! The session of 1829 is indelible ! 

 The Rat Cabinet is estimated at its proper value ; and let the worst 

 come to the worst, we say, " Long live the King !" 



