he
Tories, and give some colour to their conduct. I sat next to
Fitzgerald in the House, who is not yet re-elected, and he told
me that this was absolutely necessary. He was of course delighted
and said, 'How right Lord Francis was to trust to the Duke,'
which, however, is all nonsense. He had no reason to trust to him
at all, and I really believe would not have continued in office
as Irish Secretary unless he had adopted this measure. He owned
as Peel was speaking that he was not doing it well; he was feeble
and diffuse in the beginning, and too full of civilities and
appeals to Bankes and his old associates. However, thank God, the
event is accomplished, no matter how; probably it could not have
been done without the concurrence of these Tories, who have, I
think, certainly lost their character by their conduct; and there
is this evil in the history of the measure, that a blow will have
been given to the reputation of public men in general which will,
I strongly suspect, have an important though not immediate effect
upon the aristocratic influence in this country, and tend
remotely to increase the democratic spirit which exists. In all
these proceedings there has been so little of reason, principle,
or consistency; so much of prejudice, subserviency, passion, and
interest, that it is impossible not to feel a disgust to parties
in general. The conduct of those idiots the Brunswickers is
respectable in comparison with such men as the High Churchmen;
and the Whigs and Catholic supporters, however they may have
suffered before, in this matter stand clear and have only grounds
for exultation. They accept the measure with great moderation,
and are not disposed to mar the success of it by the introduction
of any topics likely to create ill blood, nor to damp the ardour
of new converts by throwing their former follies in their faces.

Now, then, the Duke is all-powerful, and of course he will get
all the honour of the day. Not that he does not deserve a great
deal for having made up his mind to the thing; he has managed it
with firmness, prudence, and dexterity; but to O'Connell and the
Association, and those who have fought the battle on both sides
of the water, the success of the measure is due. Indeed, Peel
said as much, for it was the Clare election which convinced both
him and the Duke that it must be done, and from that time the
only question was whether he should be a party to it or not. If
the Irish Catholics had n