threatened a disturbance of the public peace, he was signally defeated.1

Doubtful

Catholic

soldiers in

Perhaps no one circumstance contributed more than this election, to extort concessions from the governfidelity of the ment. It proved the dangerous power and organization of the Roman Catholic party. A genIreland. eral election, while such excitement prevailed, could not be contemplated without alarm. If riots should occur, the executive were not even assured of the fidelity of Catholic soldiers, who had been worked upon by their priests. They could not be trusted against rioters of their Catholic own faith.3 The Catholic Association, however, continued to be the chief embarrassment to the government. It had made Ireland ripe for rebellion. Its leaders had but to give the word; but, believing their success assured, they were content with threatening demonstrations. Out of an infantry force of 30,000 men, no less than 25,000 were held in readiness to maintain the peace of Ireland.5 Such was the crisis, that there seemed no alternative between martial law and the removal of the causes of discontent. Nothing but open rebellion would justify the one; and the Commons had, again and again, counselled the other."

Association.

1 Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, writing to Sir R. Peel, July 5th, 1828, said:"I have polled all the gentry and all the fifty-pound freeholders, — the gentry to a man." "All the great interests broke down, and the desertion has been universal. Such a scene as we have had! such a tremendous prospect as it opens to us!"..." The conduct of the priests has passed all that you could picture to yourself." - Peel's Mem., i. 113.

2 Peel's Mem., i. 117-122, et seq.

"This business," wrote Lord Eldon, "must bring the Roman Catholic question, which has been so often discussed, to a crisis and a conclusion. The nature of that conclusion I do not think likely to be favorable to Protestantism."— Twiss's Life, iii. 54.

8 Lord Anglesey's Letters, July 20th, 26th, 1828; Peel's Mem., i. 127 158, 164.

4 Lord Anglesey's Letter, July 2d, 1828; Peel's Mem., i. 147; Ibid., 207, 243-262; supra, p. 209.

5 Peel's Mem., i. 293.

6 In each of "the five parliaments elected since 1807, with one exception, the House of Commons had come to a decision in favor of a consideration

relief ac

In the judgment of Mr. Peel, the settlement of the Catho lic question had, at length, become a political Necessity of necessity; and this conviction was shared by the Catholic Duke of Wellington, the Marquess of Anglesey, knowledged by ministers. and Lord Lyndhurst.1. But how were ministers to undertake it? The statesmen who had favored Catholic claims had withdrawn from the ministry; and Lord Anglesey had been removed from the government of Ireland. It was reserved for the Protestant party in the cabinet, to devise a measure which they had spent their lives in opposing. They would necessarily forfeit the confidence, and provoke the hostility, of their own political adherents; and could lay no claim to the gratitude or good will of the Catholics.

of the king;

But another difficulty, even more formidable, presented itself, a difficulty which, on former occasions, Repugnance had alone sufficed to paralyze the efforts of ministers. The king evinced no less repugnance to the measure than his "revered and excellent father" had displayed, nearly thirty years before; and had declared his determination not to assent to Catholic emancipation.*

The Duke of Wellington, emboldened by the success of Mr. Peel's former communications with the bishops and of the on the Sacramental Test, endeavored to persuade bishops. them to support concessions to the Catholics. Their concurrence would secure the coöperation of the church and the House of Lords, and influence the reluctant judgment of the of the Catholic question;" and Mr. Peel had long been impressed with the great preponderance of talent and influence on that side. Peel's Mem., i. 146; Ibid., 61, 288, 289.

1 Peel's Mem., i. 180, 181, 188, 284.

2 The circumstances of his removal were fully discussed in the House of Lords, May 4th, 1829. — Hans. Deb., 2d Ser., xx. 990.

8 Peel's Mem., i. 274, 276. The king assured Lord Eldon that Mr. Canning had engaged that he would never allow his majesty "to be troubled about the Roman Catholic question."— Peel's Mem., i. 275. But Sir R. Peel expresses his conviction that no such pledge had been given by Mr. Canning (Ibid.); and even Lord Eldon was satisfied that the king's statement was unfounded. - Twiss's Life of Eldon, 82.

threatened a disturbance of the public peace, he was signally defeated.1

Doubtful

Catholic

soldiers in

Catholic

3

Perhaps no one circumstance contributed more than this election, to extort concessions from the governfidelity of the ment. It proved the dangerous power and organization of the Roman Catholic party. A genIreland. eral election, while such excitement prevailed, could not be contemplated without alarm.2 If riots should occur, the executive were not even assured of the fidelity of Catholic soldiers, who had been worked upon by their priests. They could not be trusted against rioters of their own faith. The Catholic Association, however, Association. continued to be the chief embarrassment to the government. It had made Ireland ripe for rebellion. Its leaders had but to give the word; but, believing their success assured, they were content with threatening demonstrations. Out of an infantry force of 30,000 men, no less than 25,000 were held in readiness to maintain the peace of Ireland.5 Such was the crisis, that there seemed no alternative between martial law and the removal of the causes of discontent. Nothing but open rebellion would justify the one; and the Commons had, again and again, counselled the other."

;

1 Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, writing to Sir R. Peel, July 5th, 1828, said:"I have polled all the gentry and all the fifty-pound freeholders, the gentry to a man." "All the great interests broke down, and the desertion has been universal. Such a scene as we have had! such a tremendous prospect as it opens to us!"..." The conduct of the priests has passed all that you could picture to yourself." - Peel's Mem., i. 113.

2 Peel's Mem., i. 117-122, et seq.

"This business," wrote Lord Eldon, "must bring the Roman Catholic question, which has been so often discussed, to a crisis and a conclusion. The nature of that conclusion I do not think likely to be favorable to Protestantism." - Twiss's Life, iii. 54.

8 Lord Anglesey's Letters, July 20th, 26th, 1828; Peel's Mem., i. 127 158, 164.

4 Lord Anglesey's Letter, July 2d, 1828; Peel's Mem., i. 147; Ibid., 207, 243-262; supra, p. 209.

5 Peel's Mem., i. 293.

6 In each of "the five parliaments elected since 1807, with one exception, the House of Commons had come to a decision in favor of a consideration

relief ac

by ministers.

In the judgment of Mr. Peel, the settlement of the Catholic question had, at length, become a political Necessity of necessity; and this conviction was shared by the Catholic Duke of Wellington, the Marquess of Anglesey, knowledged and Lord Lyndhurst.1. But how were ministers to undertake it? The statesmen who had favored Catholic claims had withdrawn from the ministry; and Lord Anglesey had been removed from the government of Ireland.2 It was reserved for the Protestant party in the cabinet, to devise a measure which they had spent their lives in opposing. They would necessarily forfeit the confidence, and provoke the hostility, of their own political adherents; and could lay no claim to the gratitude or good will of the Catholics.

ters.

But another difficulty, even more formidable, presented itself,- a difficulty which, on former occasions, Repugnance had alone sufficed to paralyze the efforts of minis- of the king; The king evinced no less repugnance to the measure than his "revered and excellent father" had displayed, nearly thirty years before; and had declared his determination not to assent to Catholic emancipation.*

8

The Duke of Wellington, emboldened by the success of Mr. Peel's former communications with the bishops and of the on the Sacramental Test, endeavored to persuade bishops. them to support concessions to the Catholics. Their concurrence would secure the coöperation of the church and the House of Lords, and influence the reluctant judgment of the of the Catholic question;" and Mr. Peel had long been impressed with the great preponderance of talent and influence on that side. - Peel's Mem., i. 146; Ibid., 61, 288, 289.

1 Peel's Mem., i. 180, 181, 188, 284.

2 The circumstances of his removal were fully discussed in the House of Lords, May 4th, 1829. — Hans. Deb., 2d Ser., xx. 990.

i.

8 Peel's Mem., i, 274, 276. The king assured Lord Eldon that Mr. Canning had engaged that he would never allow his majesty "to be troubled about the Roman Catholic question." - Peel's Mem., i. 275. But Sir R. Peel expresses his conviction that no such pledge had been given by Mr. Canning (Ibid.); and even Lord Eldon was satisfied that the king's statement was unfounded. - Twiss's Life of Eldon, 82.

4 ord Colchester's Diary, iii. 380, 473.

king. But he found them resolutely opposed to his views; and the government were now alarmed, lest their opinions should confirm the objections of his majesty.

Embarrass

ministers.

It was under these unpromising circumstances that, in January 1829, the time had arrived at which ment of some definite course must be submitted to the king, in anticipation of the approaching session. It is not surprising that Mr. Peel should have thought such difficulties almost insuperable. "There was the declared opinion of the king, the declared opinion of the House of Lords, the declared opinion of the church, unfavorable to the measures we were about to propose;" and, as he afterwards added, "a majority, probably, of the people of Great Britain was hostile to concession." 1

Proffered resignation of Mr. Peel.

2

Mr. Peel, considering the peculiarity of his own position, had contemplated the necessity of retirement; but viewing with deep concern the accumulating embarrassments of the government, he afterwards placed his service at the command of the Duke of Wellington.8

At length, an elaborate memorandum by Mr. Peel having been submitted to the king, His Majesty gave audience to those members of his cabinet who had

The king consents to

the measure. always opposed the Catholic claims; and then

4

consented that the cabinet should submit their views on the state of Ireland, without pledging himself to concur in them, even if adopted unanimously. A draft of the king's speech was accordingly prepared, referring to the state of Ireland, the necessity of restraining the Catholic Association, and of a review of the Catholic disabilities. To this draft the king gave a "reluctant consent; "5 and it was, accordingly, delivered at the commencement of the session.

1 Peel's Mem., i. 278, 308.

2 Letter to Duke of Wellington, Aug. 11th, 1828. Peel's Mem., i. 184. 3 Letter, Jan. 12th, 1829. Peel's Mem., i. 283, 294, 295.

4 lbid., 297.

5 Ibid., 310.