The Sun.
London, England, 1847-02-04 00:00:00

nour now to represent, but nearly the one-half
I of the metropolis, besides, during the most eventful and the
most critica. period of the history of the British nation had
at length dexended to the tomb full of years, without a
single enemy, and with the respect and attachment of all
parties and all classes, among his great and enlightened
constituency.—(Loudspeakiutl,• ja
u a stranger
among y
cheers.) eers. ) Although, comparatively
p ahr autrie,v e
hope 1 am not altogether without some local
claims upon your notice. I was born; bred, and
educated in the very heart of the city of West-
minster, and within the sounds of the Abbey bells.—(Laud
cheers.) I have always endeavoured to show my sense of
what was due to the great city in which I was bore by en-.
eeers.)
Tdehaevsoeudruintgiestoh
adli,sechbeaergueultrlei
Redd; ttioeus
who have proposed and seconded my nomination.—(Cheers.)
in too precticel a manner spoken offoafvboyauerthaitbiezl;Hnuat.CeCFenrieanrdds
But Jam quite aware that my political conduct has in general
been in unison with the feelings and wishes of the great ma-
jority of this great and influential connty.—(Cheers. ) Al-
though I might in truth have some claims to your good-will,
I have also some claims to that political confidence which
has enabled me to appear before you upon such an occasion
as the present. Now, gentlemen, when I entered the House
Commons, &bout 25 years since, I found the House of Commons
unreformed, not in any way such a House as would be said
to represent the people of Rngland.—(Cheers.) I found the
criminal law full of anomalies —(Cheers.) I found civil
disabilities and penal laws in existence against our Roman
Catholic fellow-subjects.—(Loud cheers.) I. found laws
in force, pressing most unjustly and most unsatis-
factorily upon the consciences of those denominations
of Christians who sincerely differed- from me
in the opinions which I, as a member of the Church
of England, must conscientiously maintain. I found slavery
existing in the Colonies; I found our trade and commerce
fettered by the most unjust monopolies also; and I found
—what was the worst of all—that it was impossible to ob-
tain any redress of the grievances, however clearly those cases
of grievances might be established, and however indisputably
the existence of those grievances might be proved.—
(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I hesitated not to attach myself
to that small but increasing band of men who had joined
themselves together for the purpose of obtaining the amelio-
ration of that which we thought to be a most pernicious
system of things.—(Cheers). Ido not intend now to go
into the details of those measures which must be
familiar to you all.—(Hear, hear.) Sufficient to say,
that we never relaxed our exertions until we obtained that
better state of things under which we now live.—(Cheers.)
Now during the whole of this period I believe that I may
say, that political consistency—at present at a discount—
(Cheers)—was not much relied on. I do not attach any
exaggerated notion to the idea of political consistency. I
am not so presumptuous as to say that during
the time I have been in Parliament that I never
modified my opinion upon any political questions. And that
was the secret of the great confidence which my former
constituents reposed in me, that during the whole of that
time I never was compelled entirely to alter my opinions
"upon any great measure brought before the House of Corn-
mons.—(Cheers.) And to which I have' lately referred.—
(Cheers,) I, as a Member of that small but determined
band, aided in giving the first blow to those systems
which I have described to you, by assisting Sir George
Canning in his great struggle in 1838, and also by assisting
Sir Robert Peel upon a very late occasion.—(Cheers.) Now,
gentlemen, during all this struggle, continued with various
successes, I had always the distinguished satisfaction of
finding myself upon every occasion side by side with
your late lamented and respected representative, Mr. G.
Ityng.—(A voice—"He was a trump; I hope you will
make a better one.) That is the title, and the only title,
which I can bring before you on the present occasion.—
(Cheers.) But do not suppose that, because we have al-
ready obtained so much success, that therefore I shall fell
back, and not continue my endeavours to obtain a further
amelioration of the condition of the people—(cheers)—or
that I have the slightest disposition to'repose myself beneath
the laurels already obtained. There are still many social fiscal
and educational reforms to be accomplished, and which will
require the most unwearied exertions to bring about—reforms
which those whinn I now address will, I doubt not, if their
lives be spared, live to witness.—(Cheers.) I am truly at-
tacheit to the working classes. I feel deeply what I owe to
them.—(Cheers.) I feel deeply what we all owe to them, and
especially to the working classes of the Metropolis. Mr.
Cobden, than whom no person could be supposed to be a
snore accurate observer, said," that however great might be
the industry of the working classes of the manufacturing
districts to which he belonged, still he must fairly state that
he artisans of London were far superior to them." Ido not
think that those working classes have been fairly treated ;
they have been most sadly neglected. lean assure the electors
of Middlesex that any measure which may be brought forward
having for its object the amelioration of that class will have
my most earnest support.—(Cheers.) But whatever may be
the opinions of the electors of Middlesex as to the
reforms still necessary, I earnestly trust that all
seeds of minor differences will be laid aside, and
that we may all unite to support the Government
and to support each other, in endeavouring to enable this
country to pass through that crisis upon which we are now
entering. Dopend upon it we must assist the Government
and each other; for, depend upon it, that, in spite of every
effort that we are so ready to make, we are as yet but on the
threshold of difficulty, and that every effort of private virtue
will; be necessary in order to stem the crisis land the diffi-
culty upon which we are now entering, even if
it should please God to give us, at an early
period a plentiful return of the fruits of the earth.—(A. voice,
" When do you mean to come to Popery?") We shall come
to that presently. Another question which I was about to
allude to was the subject of the suffrage. Suffrage is now
nearly universal.—(A voice, "We are all suffering now.")
Upon such a day as this I should be sorry to trouble you
by a long speech on that subject. (A. voice,
"Oh, it is no trouble, my Lord, don't mention it.")
I must beg to say a few words with respect to certain
opinions which I am reported as holding, especially as upon
the present occasion I; have% been told that I am the " Pope's
candidate" for the greatest metropolis in the world.—(Cries
of " No, no.") Now I am sure, sir, that before so
enlightened an audience as that which I am now ad-
dressing it is quite unnecessary for me to say that I am
not " the Pope's candidate," neither is it necessary for me to
say that lam nobody's candidate. I believe that anybody
thrust forward by any class or profession would be perfictly
unsuccessful in his endeavours to obtain the suffrages of the
electors of Middlesex. He who would aspire to that honour
must be none other than an independent person.—(Cheers.)
I beg to say, that considering the enlightened sentiments
of the sovereign who now fills the chair of St. Peter,
that I would rather be the nominee of that potentate than
of that gentleman who first applied the epithet of " Pope's
candidate" to me.—(Cheers.) You are all familiar with
the correspondence which has recently taken place between
some gentleman and myself—l allude to Mr. Hoare. Copies
of that correspondence have been most unfairly sent to every
elector of the county of Middlesex. I must beg to explain
the manner in which that correspondence has been carried
letter itself. They pub-
lished two letters to my one, that was two to
one ,
and Cheers.) They have
was decidedly taking an advantage •—(
on.—(Hear,b
utheyhandea notr.) pTuhbelyishheadd
thepublished my reply to a letter
to the letters so publish . ow,
fn whour'
gy publishedruerm aamrkaesudt
wwh Ntui cclhvo
ar
might consider necessary
use—(" Never mind that,
I call that rather shabby„ beca ,
pl like
e thatu
ee unfairlyo of ei dd euspeuxu—a
stick to it !")—I think those persons,f
d has been so much deprived me oftheharoa
respondence should
ex-
cited of late.—(Cheers.) I must beg, therefore, to express
my feelings and opinions upon the subject. What I meant
to say was this—that should any measure be proposed having
powerl
it of making
loarkei
s
subject
ur( 13bhjt
eer
cieatr lsti)bp_e
of before ewa
nab
iticuahr
pgtuehbelsphubalcorrespondence
constituencyrmind
eins
for its object the endowment of the Roman Catholic priesthood
of Ireland, I would hold myself at liberty either to oppose
or to acquiesce in such a measure upon its own merits—
(Cries of "It won't do")—but tharhaving no religious objec-
tions to the proposition, I would hold myself at liberty either
to consent or to oppose the proposition.—(Cries of "No
Church allowance; "The separation of the
,Church and
State.") I think, gentlemen, that you will perceive, with
me, the inconvenience of being questioned as to conduct
upon measures not at present before the country or the
House, or as to opinions upon which the House knew nothing
declaration Roman
are,
priesthood in; consequence;o f t n
of
t
(e flow about Maynooth ?") My opinion on the subject is,
that considering the: state of the: country and, the; excite-
ment
in which
the alarming defection of some members of the Established
Church the
from our religion, and considering also the reiterated
of thepeople
Catholic
they would not accept of an endowment—(Crieslreland,
of" Trya
'em—won't they ?")—if any Minister were to come forward
and propose such a measure, my confidence in his discretion
would be materially abated.—(Loud cheers.) Now, I
am told that I was rash in the answer which
I gave to Mr. Hoare's letter.—(No, no.) Had
I been in-
clined to temporise, I might have framed a cautious • diplo•
matic letter which nobody could have laid hold of • I dis.
dained, however, to do so. I never voted for the Maynooth
Grant, and for the best of all reasons, the opponents
of that
measure never put the question to the vote, they never
ventured to come to a division on the subject,
Although I voted for the motion of Lord Francis
Egerton, I did it twenty since •
years under circumstances
wholly different from the present. I have written a letter
to Mr. Hoare in the same spirit in which I speak—
in a spirit of perfect freedom, and in a spirit
in which I always intend both to speak and to write.
Gentlemen, I'am no political adventurer, seeking to obtain
a seat iu Parliament by flattering prevailing prejudices.—
(Hear, hear.) I have neither ambition nor private objects
to serve. lam here to defend my own consistency ; and it I
am to sit for Middlesex, I trust it will be on a satisfactory
statement of my opinions.—(hear, hear.) What I shall ask
in return on your part is this : I have twenty years' cha-
racter from my last place.—(Cheers and laughter.) Now
which of yon can produce a better?—(Continued laughter.)
And what I say is this, " Don't endeavour to tie and fetter
my hands with pledges and promises, especially with respect
to measures which are not before Parliament."—(Cheers.)
Gentlemen, give me your confidence if you agree with me
in opinion, or, at all events, put a fair construction on my
words and arguments.—(Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, there
is a great deal of talk about " endowing truth and en-
dowing error." Is the state to interfere in such matters
as these? —(Cries of " No, no ; no interference.") Now, gen-
tlemen, I approach the subject to which the latter part of the
correspondence to which I have alluded has reference; and
I have alluded to it with very great unwillingnese, and I
should be extremely sorry if any expression whatever
should fall from ins which could be supposed to
Partake, in the smallest degree, of an irreve-
rent character in treating so serious and so sacred
a subject. It is far from my intention to speak of my cor-
respondent in terms of ridicule or disparagement, least of all
should I feel inclined to speak of a class of gentlemen who
have, I think, been grievously mistaken on the present occa-
sion, but also, I am sure, considered they were doing their
duty in putting forth such statements in disrespectful terms;
but I am compelled to notice that particular part of the
letter because I wish to point out, if possible, thincen-
sistency which those who support such views.
are attributing
to Divine Providence.—( Hear.) lam sure if
for them to
they will only
reflect, that reflection would render it impossible
lay such a document again before the
Providence is public.—(Cheers.)
What they attribute by inference to Divine
this :—They assert that we ought to draw from certain events
which they have pointed out, that wehave been visited with
the wrath of Providence, for endowing
the College at May-
nooth e that, although we have for many years endowed the
the college at May-
Veen Canada,
Roman Catholic clergy of and
unscathed by Divine
neoth in Ireland, we have Men
Providence, yet in the progress
of time we could
that we have
not expect to go unpunished, and
now been visited, in consequence of all those dreadful
calamities which have lately f upon us.—(Cheers.) That
allen
assertion, if it means anything, is equivalent
to this—that it
i al of crime, that
and amount, and not the p
is the degree
• e in the eyes of Omniscience.—(Hear,
increases crime my entertaining
demon, that in consequence of
I am told, gentlemen,
these sentiments that my connexion will be very short with
the county of Middlesex. -(Cries No,no,"andcheers.)
of "
Now, gentlemen, if that be the case, I shall undoubtedly be
high and distinguished honour
extremely mortified to lose the
upon me; shall
but I
which you have this day conferred
the electors o f
h ,ut a murmur to the decision of this
bow wit
county, because I sin well aware Low very imperfectly
qualified I am to discharge the duties of the high station in
which you have this day placed me. But, gentlemen, thin
I ever aball say, that this is die proudest day of lay exist-