COMPLIMENT TO LORD PALMERSTON.
The keystone of the whig political arch was Lord Palmerston. He was by far the ablest man attached to the party. It was well understood that the connection of the noble viscount with the whig government was not from any partizan predilections, but from approval of their foreign policy, and from a patriotic desire to maintain the honour and credit of the country in its relation to other states, by devoting his diplomatic talent and experience to the conduct of the foreign office. The conservative party, knowing the powerful support which the presence of the noble lord in the whig cabinet gave to it, was unscrupulous in its desire to weaken his prestige, and “the peace party,” considering that his lordship would be prompt in claiming redress for any injuries offered to British subjects, affected to believe that his policy was rash, and to desire on public grounds his removal from office. The policy of Sir Robert Peel, and his foreign minister, Lord Aberdeen, was essentially one of compromise: it preserved peace by a concession of everything that the national temper would allow to be conceded. This answered the views of the peace party, and of those whose commercial interests were subserved by peace at any price, and who therefore identified themselves with “the peace party on principle,” although not holding at heart its theory. The House of Commons supported the policy of Viscount Palmerston, and early in June originated a subscription among its members for the purpose of presenting to Lady Palmerston a picture of her gifted husband. On the 22nd of that month a deputation, consisting of about ninety members, waited upon her ladyship, and presented the portrait, with a suitable address. The picture was a full length, and represented Lord Palmerston in cabinet council, a portrait of Canning, his political preceptor and exemplar, being suspended in the council-room. It was a curious and happy coincidence, that on the day on which this tribute of respect to her husband was presented to Lady Palmerston, a telegraphic despatch from Paris announced the settlement of the Greek question.