SHELDON
755
SHEN-SI
London newspaper as a part of the proceedings. Of
this speech Jeremy Bentham, the philosopher, said:
"So masterly a union of logic and of rhetoric scarcely
have I ever beheld". In the historic Clare election of
1828 Sheil took a leading part. Under his influence
the Catholic Association resolved to oppose the re-elec-
tion of Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald because he had taken
office in the anti-Catholic Government of the Duke of
Wellington. Finding no Protestant candidate to
make the fight, Sheil conceived the bold project of
having O'Connell, "the uncrowned king of Ireland",
enter the contest, though he knew well that no
Catholic would consent to take the anti-Catholic
test oath required of members of Parhament. But
he knew also that an election meant the demand
of 6,000,000 united Irish Catholics for justice — a de-
mand which even an anti-Catholic Parliament and an
anti-Cathohc king would probably grant for fear of
a general uprising. At the close of the polling when
the returns showed the triumphant election of the
Liberator, Shell in a remarkable address to the land-
lords assembled pointed out the folly and injustice of
wreaking vengeance on their tenants.
The Clare election brought on the Cathohc Relief Bill of 1829 and opened to Shell a career in Parliament where for eighteen years he served with distinction, first for Melbourne Port, then for Tipperary, and later for Dungarvan. His most important speeches in the House of Commons were on "The Church of Ireland", "Repeal of the Union", "Orange Lodges", "Corn Laws", "Votes by Ballot", and "Income Tax". In spite of a harsh voice and other natural defects, he became a leading orator in a Parliament noted for its eloquence. This is the testimony of two experts of such different schools as Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli. His speeches were always well pre- pared. He was very resourceful in the use of meta- phor and antithesis and also in working out an idea to carry great weight, as in his famous reply to Lord Lyndhurst's accusation that the Irish were "aliens in blood, and aliens in religion". After some hesitation, he joined his old friends in demanding the restoration of the Irish Parliament, but the crushing defeat of the measure in 1834 caused him to look upon the agitation for repeal as a "splendid but unattainable fancy". From this time on, he cast his lot with the Whig party, and accepted office under the Government. For this he has been severely condemned as a mere office- seeker who thought more of his own interests than of his native land. Yet he acted as counsel for John O'Connell, son of the Liberator, in the famous state trials of 1844, and often spoke in behalf of Ireland. But evidently holding office moderated his zeal as a critic of the Government except when the Tories were in power. In November, 1850, Shell accepted the post of British plenipotentiary at the Court of Tus- cany, Italy, where he died six months later. His body was conveyed to Ireland and buried at Long Or- chard, County Tipperary.
McCuLLAGH, Memoirs of Richard Lalor Sheil (London, 1855) Webb, Compendium of Irish Biography (Dublin, 1878), s. v. McCarthy, A History of our own Times (London, 1880) D'Alton, History of Ireland (London, 1910); Dunlop in Diet. Nat. Biog., b. v. M. J. FLAHERTY.
Sheldon, Edward, translator, b. at Beoley, 23 April, 1.599; d. in London, 27 March, 1687. He was the third son of Edward Sheldon of Beoley, Worces- tershire, and Elizabeth Markham his wife. He studied at Oxford and afterward at Gray's Inn, London, completing his education by a foreign tour. Having married Mary (or Margaret) Wake, daughter of Lionel Wake of Pedington, Northamptonshire, by whom he had nine sons and four daughters, he led a quiet life on his estate at Stratton, Gloucestershire. In 1641, being molested because of his religion, he removed to London where he lived in retirement till his death. He translated four works from the French :
"The Holy Life of M. De Renty" (1658); "The Rule
of Catholic Faith", by Dr. Veron (1660); "The
Counsels of Wisdom", by Nicholas Fouquet, Mar-
quis of Belle Isle (1680); and "Christian Thoughts
for Every Day of the Month" (1680).
Foley, Records Eng. Prov. S.J., V (Sheldon Pedigree). 8.50; Wood. Athenw Oxonienses, ed. Bliss (London, 181.3-1820); DoDD, Church History, III (Brussels vere Wolverhampton, 1737- 1742); GiLLOw, Bibl. Did. Eng. Cath.,s. v.: Cooper in Diet. Nat. Biog., a. v. EdWIN BuRTON.
Shelley, Edward, Venerable. See Leigh, Rich- ard, Venerable.
Shelley, Richard, English confessor; d. in Marshalsea prison, London, probably in February or March, 1585-6. Third son of John Shelley of Michelgrove, Clapham, Sussex, he was for some time abroad in attendance on his uncle Sir Richard Shelley, Knight of St. John, the last Grand Prior of England. He was given permission to return to England in May, 1583, which he did shortly afterwards. Two ac- counts are e.xtant of the petition he presented on behalf of his persecuted fellow-Catholics. One is by Peter Penkevel, who was his servant in the Mar- shalsea at the time of his death. This is printed by Father Pollen. Peter Penkevel says he came to London about 1584, when Mr. Robert Bellamy and others were prisoners in the Marshalsea: but Robert Bellamy was not committed there till 30 January, 1585-6. So Penkevel must be wrong in his dates, and all that he knows about the petition, which was pre- sented (as he says, to the queen) nearly a year pre- viously, is mere hearsay. Strj-pe on the other hand seems to have seen the petition, and according to him it was presented to Parliament. The only result was that Richard Shelley was sent to the Marshalsea, 15 March, 1584-5. There he remained till his death, which probably took place in February or March, 1585-6. He was certainly alive and in the Marshalsea in October, 1585. He was sick when Peter Penkevel came to him, and "shortly after died, a constant confessor in the said prison".
This Richard Shelley must be distinguished from the Richard Shelley of Findon, Sussex, and All Can- nings, Wilts (second son of Edward Shelley of Warm- inghurst, Sussex, and brother of Ven. Edward Shel- ley the martyr) , who was committed to the Marshalsea for his religion, 13 August, 1580. Mass was said in his chamber there by the priest William Hartley, 24 August, 1582. He was still there 8 April, 1584, but was liberated soon after. He was again in prison in 1592.
Strype, Annals, III (Oxford, 1824),i, 432-4; Berry, Sussex Genealogies (London, 1830), 62; Pollen, Acts of the English Martyrs (London, 1891), 283; Calendar State Papers Domestic (1581-90). 231. 276. JoHN B. WaINEWRIGHT.
Shem. See Sem.
Shen-si, Vicariate Apostolic of Northern. — In 1640 the Christian religion was preached for the first time in the Province of Shen-si. It was, by turns, looked upon with favour and disfavour by the em- perors of China. The Province of Shen-si belonged to the Vicariate Apostolic of Shan-si until 1841. By a Decree of 3 February, 1841, it was erected as a sepa- rate vicariate Apostolic. It kept the Province of Kan-su and Ku-Ku-Nor until 1878. In 1887, by a Decree of 6 July, the province was divided in two vicariates Apostolic, Northern and Southern Shen-si. The Vicariate Apostolic of Northern Shen-si includes the five Prefectures of Si-ngan, Feng-tsiang, Tung- chu, Yen-ngan and Ye-lin. The climate is healthful, but very cold in winter. There are about 7,000,000 inhabitants.
The mission is entrusted to the Franciscan Fathers. The present vicar Apostolic is the Rt. Rev. Maurice Gabriel, consecrated in 1908. He resides at Si-ngan. In 1903 the missions numbered : 10 European Fran- ciscan Fathers; 21 native priests; 23,600 Catholics;
