nveying the Queen's disapprobation of his Proclamation
is very dignified and becomingly severe. It is impossible to
conceive anything more galling to a man so puffed up with pride
and vanity, and who fancied himself to be placed upon a pinnacle
far above the sphere of official obligation and responsibility.

It is curious to see the different measure that was dealt out to
Durham and to Head,[18] the latter an able, though not always a
prudent man, who really did good service in his government, and
extricated himself boldly and successfully from a very difficult
situation. He had dismissed a Judge for certain reasons, part of
which he explained to the Colonial Office, and for the rest he
told them that he must, in the difficult position he was in, draw
upon their confidence to support and confirm his act. They said
this was not enough, and insisted on his restoring the Judge.
Upon this he tendered his resignation, which they instantly
accepted; and when he came home they took no notice of him
whatever, and at the same time they were flattering and lauding
and trying to cajole Durham, and begging and praying him to stay,
in the midst of his blundering acts and insolent language, and
while he was addressing the Government in the most contumelious
terms. Head has behaved very well about the publication of his
despatches; for when he asked Melbourne's leave to publish, and
the latter refused, he promised that nothing should appear, and
that he would discourage any Parliamentary attempt to elicit
them. Now that Durham's Report has come forth, containing
strictures on Head's conduct, he assumes a right to publish, for
his own vindication, and he has asserted this in a pettish letter
to Melbourne; whereas, if he had again asked for permission on
this express ground, it would not have been refused. The motto of
this Government, however, seems to be,--

parcere superbis et debellare subjectos,

and their besetting sins are pusillanimity, indifference, and
_insouciance_. On a discussion the other night about speaking on
petitions, when the Speaker laid down the practice, which Lord
John Russell supported with great earnestness, and which was
opposed on Radical grounds by the Radicals, Stewart of the
Treasury, and Vernon Smith, marched off and would not vote; and,
instead of being reprimanded, Vernon Smith will probably be made
Under Secretary of State.

[18] [Right Hon. Sir Francis Bond Head, who was Govern