--- SYMPTOMS OF WHIG UNPOPULARITY.
IT is an unthankful office to speak disagreeable truths to a Prime Minister. "Through him the rays of regal bounty shine;" and they arc seldom suffered to fill upon the friend whose brows arc knit, and whose accents are ungracious. As it generally happens that the persons who come in contact with the Premier are those who now arc, or expect at seine future time to be,.suitors for the good things in his gift, it is most unlikely that they should take upon themselves the repulsive task of disturbing the selncompla- cency of the great man, by telling him that his power is on the wane and his popularity departed. We have no doubt, for in- stance, that when Sir Joust CAMPBELL was defeated at Dudley, Earl GREY'S hangers-on informed him, that it was a matter of trifling moment; that the low Radicals, who had influence in manufacturing towns, might now and then unseat a Ministeri- alist ; that all Ministers met with rubs occasionally; but that the great body of the nation, like the great majority of the House of Commons.. would cleave to the Whig authors of the Reform Bill, thiough evil as well as good report. Then again, as his Lordship was known to be perversely resolved to give way as little as possi- ble to the Dissenters, it was no doubt represented to him, that a very little way would be far enough; that a sop was all that was necessary ; and that Lord Joust RUSSELL'S Marriage Bill would allay the Nonconformist commotion, for this session at least. It was not till a vast deal of mischief had been done, and the great body of time Dissenters bad been most seriously offended, that the Premier found out his mistake, and the word of command was issued to promise freely and speak fair. But warnings come thick upon Earl GREY. The last which lie has received is perhaps the most serious of any. It is well known that more tl an one Scottish Member was a candidate for the place at the Treasury lately occupied by Mr. KENNEDY. But upon sounding their constituents, the cautious men of the North found that their seats in the House of Commons must be the price of their seats at the Treasury Board, and each and all considered the price too high. At last it was supposed that a person was found sufficient's' daring to risk the unpopularity of a co:melon with the Whig Ministers; and Mr. WARNE, the Member for Hastings, was named-as the new Treasury Lord. But here Ministers en- countered another disappointment. At the last election, Mr. W ARRE obtained 239 votes;' but upon a recent canvass he has as- certained that he could Wet reckon upon half 'the number in case he joined the Ministerial phalanx, and that his Radical opponent, Mr. Ilows RD Ee PH I NSTONF, would be sure to carry the election. Nay, even Mr. PLANTA, a Conservative, presumed to think that Ire had a better chance of success titan a Whig official, and came into the field against him f The result is, that Mr. W A RRE re- mains Member for Hastings; and the vacant office is very much
at the service of any geotleman of decent talents who can find a constituency to return him.
Thus we see, that in some respects the Reform Bill works well. Under the old system, no such embarrassment as we have de- scribed would have occurred. The Minister had then a copious supply of boroughs at command, and could always avoid the risk of' sustaining a defeat in the person of one of his employ6s. Con- siderable public inconvenience will occur, now and then, from the necessity of official persons being sent back to their constituents on a change of office; but on this occasion the rule has a salutary effect,—it atinels a proof of the dissatisfaction of the People with the inefficiency of Ministers, and at the same time occasions no public inconvenience; as the business at the Treasury goes on much as usual, notwithstandirw the absence of one of the Lords. As this is the case, we would ask, where is the use of 'filling up the vacant appointment at all ?
A Ministry that is unpopular out of doors, sooner or later loses support within. Thus, it is at present not unusual to hear those who are reckoned among the friends of Ministers, declare that they can support them no longer. Many of these dissatisfied Members made up their minds to support Ministers last session through thick and thin; and thereby induced them to continue in their injudicious course. For as long as their majorities are undi- minished, men in power pay little regard to grumbling. It would have been better even for Ministers themselves, had their pro- fessed friends spoken out their dissatisfaction, and voted accord- ingly. They were the best advisers of the Reform Ministers, who warned them, at the beginning of last session, that they were on the wrong tack. But instead of thanks, all these received abuse. The consequences are evident. In every part of the country--in Scotland, in the North, Middle, and South of England—the ground is falling from under them,and down they must go: nothing short of a miracle can save them. .
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