REINFORCEMENT OF THE HOME CABINET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 464, 15 April 1857, Page 8

REINFORCEMENT OF THE HOME CABINET.

(From the London 'Examiner,' November 15 th.) A morning contemporary, the Daily News, in the following passage, which we extract with great pleasure, not -only gives an excellent hint to the Government, but strikes a note which we feel confident will be cordially responded to by all that is liberal and enlightened in the country: ' The Government wants strength in the House of Lords. During a considerable portion of last session, Lord Grariville's ill health deprived the Government of his" aid in the conduct of mblic business in that house; and though the Duke of Argyll occasionally undertook to supply Lord Granville's place, a statesman of more weight than his grace is wanted. Lord Granville's health continues uncertain. At Lord Lansdowne's advanced age, it is not fair to trespass too much or too often on his willingness to lead'; Lord Harrowby is quite out of the question; and the pressure of his department is far too heavy on Lord Panmure to expect any large -participations in the general business^ of Government from him, for. the more time he has to give the army the : better for it and the country. : Thus situated we are persuaded that if Lord Palmerston could secure for his Government the assistance of Lord John Russell in the House of Lords, he would not only strengthen his Government and brighten the prospects of -the liberal party but-substantially serve the country also. To see Lord J. Russell, with the liberal party, in power, wait another session on the back benches of the House of Commons, will be to the great bulk of that party •a' sorry sight.' We have no such plethora of political ability, either in or out of office, that' Aye can afford to throw away experience, talent, and consistency, such as ha,ve distinguished Lord John. By exaggerating, to his.continued exclusion from office^ the short-comings which we all deplore, we are but punishing ourselves and the country. We are threatened by a distinguished Quarterly Reviewer, 'whose essay is said to have had the advantage of Lord Derby's final • corrections, with strong Tory opposition next session. With such a prospect before us, what so natural as to seek assistance from the most persevering opponent Toryism has had in our generation ?' Although Lord John Eussell is a man whose great powers, whether in place or out of it, are sure to be exercised for the benefit of the country, yet public employment is unquestionably his proper place at any period of his' illustrious patriotic career. ' We would fain believe that the next session will do something to ■ redeem the inaction of the last, the causes or excuses for neglect of domestic reforms being no longer pleadable. No sinister inference is to be drawn from Lord Palmerston's abstinence from distinct pledges upon this subject. He is not the less likely on that account to be sincerely bent upon doing what the country wishes and expects. ' Why, as to reforming,' says Charles Surface,' I'll make no promises, and that I take to be a proof that I intend to set about it.' The Premier is probably of the same way of thinking; and if we are to have a session of real work and progress before the death of the Parliament, a statesman of Lord John's eminence ought 'certainly to be in a situation to give the country all the benefit of his authority and experience.