A few not unexpected shiftings among the seats in the
Cabinet are announced ; and a vacancy thus occasioned, at the head of the Admiralty, is to be filled by the Earl of Ellenborough. The admission of this nobleman to the Ministry is so hazardous an experiment, that it can hardly be supposed that Sir Robert Peel acts voluntarily in the matter. It is generally imputed to the Duke of Wellington—the Earl's personal friend, his unflinching defender oven on Indian grounds, and the indulgent interpreter of his "tong of triumph." The public will inevitably regard the proceeding as part 'of the general arrangement between the Premier and the Duke on the subject of the Corn-laws—the first instalment in the price of repeal. It will scarcely. be the less dis- liked in " the City," because no necessary connexion will be felt to exist between the Corn-law question and the Earl, though much between him and Indian affairs, still in an unsettled state,- and in commercial quarters sympathy has sided altogether with the East India Directors.
The appointment., we say, is hazardous ; but we do net Irrow that it is a bad one. Lord Ellenborough may be considered as being newly put upon his trial; unfavourably as respects some impressions of the past, perhaps favourably as respects the choice of an office for him. His general abilities are undoubted. In the particular department, his energies may have legitimate vent, without endangering any interest. It is no matter how formid- able, or even how ardent and fierce, our navy might be rendered : the more efficient every tool can be made, the more powerfully and also the more delicately it can be used—it is your blunt knife that inakes the worst hacking. Our navy might, too, be greatly improved by the administration of some vigorous, mind not shackled by mere routine, but ready to meet altered times and aspects with new appliances. The true policy is, not to have an ineffectual or dull arm of war, but prudent counsels ; and the question therefore is, not whether the War Ministers are tame folks, but whether.the Civil members of the Council, who deter- mine on peace -or -War, are prudent men.
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