POSTSCRIPT
SATURDAY.
The Chronicle pursues its wandering course of commentary on the re- ception of the Government measures. If the object were to be guessed by the lucubration published this morning, it might appear to be to beat up for opposition to the alterations in the Tariff. The Duke of Richmond's remark to Mr. Christopher, " that if strong efforts were made to impede the Tariff, some alteration would be conceded," is re- peated with glee ; and the " Free Trade " journal finds comfort in the thought, that "it may be assumed, we think, as almost certain, that great efforts will be made by the country gentlemen to obtain a mate- rial modification of the Tariff" The grounds of that comfort seem to be summed up in these sentences, concerning Sir Robert Peel and the agriculturists- " He has given them up to their Free-trade pursuers. He has diminished their protection for wheat, almost destroyed it in respect of barley and oats, and effectually swept it away in the case of butchers meat, fish, fruit, and timber; and what protection he has left is a one-legged, ricketty concern, which the very next push will shove over and demolish. The Whigs could have done no worse; and had they had their wicked will, the injury would not have been aggravated, as it now is, by the stinging reflection, that the victim has put the knife into the hands of his destroyer." The Times says nothing on the subject this morning ; and it has been silent all the week ; having closed its remarks on the Income-tax with the judicious paper of last Saturday. The Chronicle has accounted for the retirement of its powerful contemporary. by imputing to the Times " the belief, no doubt, that the country. is not yet prepared to respond to its exertions." If so, the Times estimated the response of the country better than the Chronicle: but perhaps it also thought it as well not to help the Opposition-game during the recess.
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