is arrival may
be productive of important effects.

[Page Head: IRRITATION OF THE RADICALS.]

The Radicals, that is, the English ones, are extremely
exasperated against the Government, and many of them are anxious
to terminate the Whig reign, from which they think it vain to
expect anything after John Russell's declaration, and to try
their chance with the Tories: not that they expect to find the
Tories squeezable, but they fancy that a Tory Government will
fail, and, after its failure, that recourse must be had to them.
The wiser heads of the party know that these notions are quite
chimerical, and are for trusting to the chapter of accidents and
letting the present Cabinet remain in. The consequence is, that
there is great dissension and vast difference of opinion among
them; they have no leader, and there is no individual who
influences the determinations of the whole body. On the other
side of the water, O'Connell has likewise threatened to insist
upon ballot as the condition of his support to Government; but
nobody pays any attention to his harangues or the menaces they
contain, and his support may be pretty well depended on. But it
would not be enough for Government that the English Radicals
should abstain from going against them in a body, because so
slender is the majority on which they can count, that if any
considerable number were to oppose Government on some vital
question, it would be sufficient to overthrow them. Of this they
are aware, as well as of the probability of such defection, and
the consequent precariousness of their situation, and many among
them are beginning to be very tired and disgusted with such a
tenure of office. It is difficult to believe that Melbourne would
not be more so than anybody, if it were not that he is bound by
every sentiment of duty, gratitude, and attachment to the Queen
to retain the Government as long as he can with honour and
safety, and to stretch a point even, to spare her the pain and
mortification of changes that would be so painful to her. The
Tories, who see the accumulating difficulties of the Government,
and who are aware of the immense importance of letting it
dissolve of itself, or be broken up by the defection and
opposition of its own supporters, are disposed to be patient and
moderate; that is, the more sagacious of them are; but they are
always in danger of being prematurely urged on by the violence
and impetuosity of their tail. Such is the state of pa