MINISTERIAL CHANGES

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 35, 22 March 1856, Page 3

MINISTERIAL CHANGES

The Times of the 26th November contains the following; announcement: — "Several changes have taken place in the composition of the cabinet. The Duke of Argyll, as has been already staled, has succeeded Lord Canning as Postmaster-General ; and Lord Harrowbv, vacating the Vice Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster, will take the Duke of Argyll's sinecure place as Lord Privy Seal. Mr. Baines, who retired from the Presidency of the Poor Law Board at the end of the last Session, becomes Chancellor of the Duchy, with a beat in tbe Cabinet; and Lord

Stanley, of Alderley, the President of the Board of Trade lias also been appointed a member of the Cabinet." The same paper remarks on these appointments : — " The lesser arrangements of the Cabinet have now been definitely announced. Two addiiions are made to this body, in the persons of Lord Stanley, of Alderley, who retains his present post as President of the Board of Trade, and of Mr. Baines, who is to be Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. It has for some time been known that the Duke of Argyll is to fill the office of Postmaster-General. The Privy Seal, which has been placed once more at the disposal of the Premier by the Duke's translation to St. Martin's-le Grand, has been given to Lord Harrowbv, who vacates the Chancellorship of the Duchy of Lancaster to make room for Mr. Baines. None of these appointments, except that of the gentleman last named, call for any serious remark. Mr. Baines is essentially a representative of the middle classes, and his appointment may be accepted as evidence of the disposition of the Minister to import that element into the Constitution of his Cabinet. Hitherto, whatever duties Mr. Biines has been intrusted with he has discharged to the satisfaction of the public. As chief officer under the Poor Law he had a most troublesome and anxious duty to perform—which served rather to test his capacity for administration than his fitness for the higher vocation of statesman and orator. He was, however, occasionally compelled to address the House to defend the acts of his administration, and whenever tried he acquitted himself with success. Whenever we ha?e integrity of principle, sound sense, the power of addressing an assembly, if not in a brilliant, at least in a satisfactory manner, what more can be expected from a man to whom as yet the higher opportunities of distinction have been denied ? In these days every man will think for himself, the principle of authority is weakened, and happily so in political affairs, so that mere eloquence carries few votes. A modern statesman is powerful in the House and popular in the country in so far as he represents the opinion of the majority, or at least of a large section of the community, Lord Palmerston at the present moment is the representative of our determination to continue the war with Russia until terms are obtained which shall preclude the necessity of appealing to arms again, for similar reasons, at least until another generation has passed away. Hence the popularity of his administration. With such a cause, and with the full weight of opinion out of doors at his back, the Premier seems inclined to oppose plain common sense to the attacks of the regular gladiators of the House. Mr. Baines has, as he declares in his address, accepted office with the full determination of lending the whole strength of his ability to this cause, and, with so good a brief in his hand, he will, we trust, hold his own asrainst the oratorical ability upon the other side."