The Times publishes a long letter by "C." of the
" Coningsby " stamp, lecturing Sir Robert Peel on his position and procedure. It af- fects a Junius-like style of mingled familiarity and trenchant dissection, and widns up with what is meant for a sting— "Formal without dignity, cold without refinement, your manner towards your friends in the House of Commons is at once distant and ungracious. They enjoy neither generous confidence nor friendly intercourse. Without either consultation or explanation, they find their wishes disregarded, their most cherished opinions overruled. In debates upon measures more unpalatable to them than to,the Opposition, they are frequently compelled to listen to the language of admonition and reproof, sometimes even to that of menace and command.
"Now, Sir, I have done. It is clear that matters cannot remain long as they are. You must yourself feel upon what an edge you stand. Strong only be- cause your enemies are weak, you will be abandoned at the very first favour- able opportunity. If you have any true and familiar friend, he ought to urge you, upon grounds of common prudence if upon none higher, to retire with some degree of grace, while you may."
Heigh-ho !—how Sir Robert must have hurt this gentleman's feelings one day ! Some Premiers have made a practice of appointing all their friends : Sir Robert, it seems, only disappoints them ; which is by no means so pleasant.
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