HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
writers represent them; that the 
~ nomination of Jord E!lenborough to 
a place in the cabinet, was not only 
strictly legal, but justifiable, on the 
_ ground of precedent and constitu- 
tional analogy ; and that the ten- 
dency and effect of his appointment 
had been misunderstood or misrt- 
presented, in many particulars, by 
the supporters of the motions be- 
fore parliament. But, the public 
+ could not but perceive the difference 
_ between the actual duties of a privy 
counsellor’s, and those of a cabinet 
connsellor’s place ; between the oc. 
 casional and the habitual exercise 
‘ofthe same functions ; between the 
right of taking a part in the politi- 
' cal discissions of the day, and the 
necessity of giving an opinion on all 
State affairs as’they arise: and they 
who reltected on the slow and be- 
_ Reficial progress by which judges 
had been detached from state intri- 
gues, and removed out of the perni- 
cious atmosphere of’ the court, 
could not but regret, that die 
stream had now taken a retrograde 
direction, and threatened to fall back 
into that gulph, where so many 
_ judges had perished in former times. 
in this view of the subject the ap- 
 peintment of a lord chief justice to 
_ a cabinet place was to be considered 
‘rather as a precedent that might 
lead to evil consequences, thaw. as a 
"Measure from which any mischief 
_ Was at present to be apprehended ; 
and such, after the conclusion of 
_ this debate, we believe to have been 
oe impression that remained with 
any excellent and enlightened 
rsons throughout the kingdom. 
Before we bring this chapter to a 
Weldee we shall take a short and 
general view of the disposition of 
the public mind towards the new 
ministers, at their first entrance in- 
Vou. XLVITL. 
t 
33 
to office and during the early part 
of their administration. 
Much, then, was expected from 
their exertions; but, though some 
good will existed towatls them, 
there was no enthusiasin in their fa- 
vour, Little popular feeling, ia 
deed, of any sort was left in the 
country. The violence engendered 
by the French revolution had long 
since spentits fary, and had given 
place to universal apathy and indif- 
ference on all politicalsubjects, that 
did not affect directly the public 
purse, or concern the safety or na~ 
val glory of the kingdom. Hatred 
of peculation, and aversion to. 
France, were the only springs that 
moved or even touched the public 
mind. But, while the new ministers 
could reckon little oa the zealous or 
ardent support of the country, they 
had to contend at once with the 
secret disinclination of the court, 
and with the active and indefatiga. 
ble opposition of the persons whom 
they had recently displaced from 
office. The friends and adherents 
of the late ministers, though dis. 
united in every other respect, were 
agreed in the most cordial hatred of - 
their successors ; and though the 
ex-ministers themselves had little 
name or popularity to boast of, 
their followers were numerous and 
active, and from their past habits 
and occupations they were particu. 
larly fitted to give annoyance to any 
administration against which they 
had an interest to combine. Many 
of the public journals were under 
their influence, and from long prac 
tice and experience in the art of 
leading and governing public opi. 
nion through the press, they per- 
fectly understood how to avail 
themselves of that powerful engine 
tothe best advantage. They had - 
D intimate 
