House of Commons crushed it, than it determined that those who had composed it—the O'Connells and Shiells—were most fit and proper persons to be the legislators and ministers of Britain. This was unquestionably quite free from bigotry ; perhaps it was not quite so free from foolishness.
In the session of 1823, sixty-two members of the House of Commons supported a resolution, which, in substance, declared that the Irish Church establishment was too large, and ought to be reduced. It was pretty well known, that these members had manifested anything but friendship towards the Church of England and its clergy. Mr Canning adverted to this in the debate on the Bill for putting down the Association, and declared, that Catholic emancipation, and the measure for spoiling the Irish Church, could not pass simultaneously. Unluckily Mr Hume, the famous arithmetic-master, had already given notice that he meant to place a similar resolution before the House for its adoption. Well—Mr Hume, sweet, pliant man ! was prevailed on to withdraw his notice ; and the nation, sweet, credulous creature ! was to imagine that the sixty-two had changed their opinion. No disavowal was made, and the nation was not to be so illiberal as to look for one. The nation was to believe, that when the Catholics got into Parliament, the sixty-two would not assist them to lay the established church in ruins. Things being thus prepared, the Catholic question was ushered into the House of Commons.
Sir Francis Burdett opened the business with a speech that astounded every one. It was all—every syllable—every letter—sugar and butter. He had, in the preceding sessions, lavished everything upon the Orangemen that could be called abuse ; now he declared these Orangemen to be the most noble and the best of beings. Those who, before, had always received from him the most bitter diatribes, were now honoured with an overflowing share of his panegyric. The established clergy were fine men—the Ministers were excellent men—even the opponents of the Catholics were very decent, honest people. The Catholic priests were the first of human beings ; and the Catholics, generally, were the most finished specimens of purity, intelligence, wisdom, patriotism, and loyalty. Poor Sir Francis !—We never dreamed that he was capable of plunging himself into such degradation. We have laughed at his follies, we have pitied his failings, we have detested his schemes, we have execrated his conduct, and still we never, before this, ceased to respect him. We never mistook him for a statesman, but we always thought that he possessed a share of that manly, frank, blunt, honest, downright, old English spirit, which disdains trickery and cunning, and which we shall ever honour wherever we may find it. He blundered amazingly in his new tactics ; he overdid the thing in the most shocking manner. His speech did but little service to his cause, and it lost him Westminster.
The advocates of the Catholics, generally speaking, were, no doubt, placed in a very distressing situation. Instead of being able to expatiate on Catholic desert, they had only Catholic delinquency to extenuate ; instead of being able to claim the removal of the disabilities on the ground of qualification, they were actually compelled to claim it on the ground of disqualification !—Our clients have certainly acted in a most improper manner—they have manifested very bad religious and political feelings—they have uttered language and done deeds which we cannot possibly defend—but this constitutes their merit. This ought to be irresistible with you in their favour. If you decide against them they will become rebels, therefore you ought to make them your legislators and ministers !—A large part of their reasoning amounted to this, and no more. It certainly displayed great liberality, and this was no slight matter. It was new, and new sophistry is often more effectual than old arguments, however unanswerable.
It was speedily discovered that the securities, as they were called, appended to the Catholic Bill, were universally laughed at, and that without something else in the shape of security, the bill would never pass the House of Commons. Two wings, as they have been called, were therefore added, to enable the clumsy paper-kite to soar to the Lords.
We have spoken as warmly as any one against the present system of manu-
