TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE MINISTRY GOOD FOR A MONTH.
IT is really hard upon Ministers that all their concessions to Toryism should be of no avail. Their system of holding qflee for the Tories, does not seem to answer at all. The plan of "a Tory government by AVhigs " is already worn out. Vain are solemn declarations against the opinions of a majority of their own Tarty ; fruitless is snbtnission after submission to the dictates of the Opposition leader ; the abandonment of measures to which this Ministry was deeply pledged meets with no reward. Do
what they will to affront their supporters and gratify their foes, the Ministry become weaker and weaker from month to month. Less than a twelvemonth has passed since their end seemed close at hand, and Lord MELBOURNE'S extraordinary luck appeared to have set them up again, stronger than ever : already their con- dition is scarcely better than at the time of ButinLtr's last return for Westminster, and the virtual defeat cf their Church-rate measure, when their tenure of office was not considered worth a month's purchase. The rapidity with which they have come to
miss the aim of so many sacrifices of principle in order to retain place from day to day, is not the least remarkable part of the case. For it should always be recollected, that the Tory leader, or rather the individual Sir ROBERT PEEL, was ready enough to fall into the plan of a Government of Whigs controllei and guided by himself in Opposition. So proud a personal position as that which the plan offered to him, might well be preferred to the responsibilities and cares of office. But be appears to have mis- calculated as much as the MELBOURNE Whigs. He cannot re- strain his party. The young dogs of the Tory pack have tasted blood this week, and are now unmanageable. He must either cease to be the leader of' his party, or must agree to assault after assault; in r:glit good earnest, on the Ministerial camp. Mean- while, whot has become of' Reform and the Reformers? To utter the words should set Lord Jonre RUSSELL'S teeth on edge.
It does not seem to follow, however, that Ministers will be pre- sently turned out of office. Who can tell what amount of beating they may take, rather than do what Ministers of common pride have ever done when beaten. One who has been so very fortunate as the careless, swaggering Premier, must be loath to believe that his luck has turned. In the next place, if Sir ROBERT PEEL find that he must go for office, he will plead hard with his party against hasty measures; saying, one may imagine—" Wait a while longer; let the Reformers," (here Sir ROBERT, though not given to fun, must smile at least,) " with the MELBOURNE Whigs at their head, sink a little lower: they are very near the bottom : I will really try for office, but let it be per- manent office : let us, by the mode in which we obtain power, prevent all formidable opposition." Such a sermon may per- haps be wasted on the impatient audience ; but there is one argument in favout of delay, which will hold good for a month or so, and to which the most eager of the Tories will surely attend. Lord DURHAM is not gone yet. It would be downright folly in the Tories to turn out Lord MELBOURNE until Lord DURHAM shall be fairly off. Surely they o ill have wit enough to wait for a month.
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