: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 53 No. 327 January 1843 by Various - Scotland Periodicals; England Periodicals Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine

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GREAT BRITAIN AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE YEAR 1843.

Malte Brun, xi. 179. Alison, x. 256.

After a desperate tenacity in retaining office exhibited by the late Government, which was utterly unexampled, and most degrading to the character and position of public men engaged in carrying on the Queen's Government, Sir Robert Peel was called to the head of affairs by her Majesty, in accordance with the declared wishes of a triumphant majority of her subjects--of a perfectly overwhelming majority of the educated, the thinking, and the monied classes of society. When he first placed his foot upon the commanding eminence of the premiership, the sight which presented itself to his quick and comprehensive glance, must have been, indeed, one calculated to make

--"the boldest hold his breath For a time."

Hansard, vol. lxi. col. 423.

Hansard, vol. lxi. col. 429, 430, 431.

Hansard, vol, lxi. col. 439.

Year ending 5th January 1840, L.2,390,764!--1841, L.1,342,604!--1842, L.1,495,540!--

--"like a worn-out lion in a cave, That goes not out to prey?"

Parliamentary History, vol. xxxiv. p. 271.

The present aspect of foreign affairs is calculated to excite mixed feelings of pain and exultation in the breast of a thoughtful observer. The national character of Great Britain had unquestionably fallen in European estimation, and lost much of the commanding influence of its mere name, during the last few years preceding the accession to office of the present Government. That was an event--viz. the formation of a Cabinet at St James's, containing Sir Robert Peel, the Duke of Wellington, Lord Aberdeen, and Lord Stanley--which justly excited an instant and great sensation in all foreign courts, regard being had to the critical circumstances of the times. Every one, both at home and abroad, knew well that if WAR was at hand, here was a Government to conduct it on the part of Great Britain, even under the most adverse circumstances imaginable, with all our accustomed splendour and success. But all knew, at the same time, that imminent as was the danger, if a profound statesmanship could avert it, consistently with the preservation of the national honour, that danger would promptly disappear. The new Cabinet instantly proclaimed themselves "lovers of peace, but not afraid of war;" and an altered tone of feeling and policy was quickly observable on the Continent.

--"Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer! And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, Our bruis?d arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures!"

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