The Sun.
London, England, 1827-05-03 00:00:00

It would, however, be ungrateful in the country to pass
over their great merits. To the brilliant achievements of
one of them (the Noble Duke) the country was indebted
for that high pre-eminence which it had obtained among
nations. Of the talents of the Noble Earl (Eldon) in the
court over which he had so long presided—of his un-
wearied assiduity and extraordinary discrimination as
a judge, it was unnecessary for him to speak.—
They were well known to the public; but it might
he added, that during the time he had ably and
faithfully discharged his duty to the public, lie
was made the constant object of the most unre-
lenting calumny. But when the feelings of party
should have passed away, posterity, that rigid censor,
would do him certain though tardy justice. As to the
Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr: Peel), he had clearly and
manfully explained the reasons which had induced him to
retire from office, and the publicity given to the debates in
Parliament had already sent his explanation through. the
country. In the course of the discussion elsewhere, a hope
had been expressed by the Right Hon. Gentleman at the
,head of the Government, that the retirement ofbis Right
Hon. Friend (Mr. Peel) would be only temporary. In
that hope he was certain the country most fully concurred,
but whether he continued in voluntary retirement, cr again
accepted office, on his zeal-and honourable consistency in
the cause of his country every reliance might be places].
He had his fault, but it was that of diffidence of his own
great talent, and of the high consideration in which he was
so justly held by the country. This led to the loss which
the country had sustained in his retirement. • To the ad-
auiration which his great talents so justly called forth,
!night be added the sincere respect for the total absence
if selfishness, and his unassuming manner—qualities so
rarely found in a person so highly gifted.—(llear, bear. )
But enough of resignations. He would now say a word 11.4
to the new Administration. According to the accounts which
had gone before the public, it appeared that in the first in-
itance Mr. Canning .had suggested the forination of an Ad-
etinistration purely Protestant; but why lie had propsae-
el such an Administration, lie (Lord Mansfield) could
not say, except that, like nine pins, he had set them
ap for the purpose of knocking them downy.—(Hear, hear.)
—That suggestion not having been successful, he made
mother, and then he expressed his surprise and regret at the
resignation of his colleagues ; but considering what had
since passed, and what had been stated by the Noble Duke,
their Lordships must see What Was the nature of his sur-
prise, and what were the grounds of his regret. It had
been said that Mr. Canning did not know by whom 'the
recommendation of the recent changes had been made.—
He (Lord Mansfield) would be very unwilling to ask the
Right Hon. Gentleman to tell that which he did not know;
,nut he should like extremely to have his guess or. the
,object. He should like to learn who it was that "in
:he porches of the Royal ear, did pour out the lepe-
mus distilment," poisoning it against those who had be -
rime enjoyed the confidence of their Sovereign. He
:lad heard much of what had recently been done ; and
,s far as what had taken place arose from the words
.nd acts of his Majesty, it was not a subject of in-
auiry ; but it might be inquired whether the words and
acts of his Majesty were not the words and acts of his
ministers. In a constitutional point of view, of course,
the King could not do that which should be made the sub-
iect of blame ; but he might be made accessary to that
,which was blameable in others, and of which he himself
vas to be the victini. During the life of the Sovereign
tits acts were constitutionally exempted from censure ;
tut when once the tomb closed upon men, their character
'tecame the property of history. The public knew their
laracter, and would often judge from what they had done,
:hat which they would be likely to do under particular cir-
aimstances. Applying this to the character of his late
‘lajesty, lie would suppose that it had been proposed to him
au form an Administration, it would not be difficult to sup-
Awe that lie objected to a divided Cabinet, on one impor-
t tnt subject ; but it would be difficult to suppose that he
could give his assent to the formation of such a Cabinet,
unless the preponderance was decidedly Protestant. Yet if
even that were the case, and it was proposed to his Ma-
jesty to place at the head of such a Cabinet the Right Hen.
Gentleman (Mr. Canning), who had been the constant,
zealous, and most able advocate 6f a principle to which his
Niajesty was hostile, was there any man who could doubt
,hat such a proposition would have been instantly rejected ?
Bad it been at the sams time proposed to his Majesty to
place at the head of the Government of lreland,—to place
is Secretary for the Home Department,—individuals dis-
, inguished for the constant support of the question of
-tmancipation, to which 'His Majesty had declared his
amscientious hostility, was there any repots to. doubt
hat those propositions would not have been refused ?
;oppose, again, it were proposed to his late Majesty to
elevate to noble rank, and to place as Lord Chancellor of
!reland, the brilliant advocate-of that measure to which he
tad so strong an objection, could his 'Majesty's refusal of
!lie proposition be doubted for an instant? Those who
'tnew his Majesty's ellarasseriandisentiments, could have no
tesitation in stating what his determination would be in
'hose cases. Still less could they doubt_it, after they had
!earned that his Majesty had had an interview with the
Archbishop of Canterbury, and bad authorized bins to con-
vey to his Right Rev. Brethren his determination to ex,
dude from a preponderance in his councils those who pro..
nosed a measure which he could not conscientiously ap-
arove, and that that impression had gone abroad through
the country, and was hailed with unmixed satisfaction.
If, however, after such opinions had been expressed,
st was found that his Majesty had been advised, and
'tad acted on the advice, to take a different course
in all those points, it would no doubt be an object
)f interesting and important inquiry to know by
whom that advice had been given, and on what ground.
He would now say a word as to who were the ministers.
Upon this point, the House was a good deal governed by
vport, and was indebted for its information to the Press
—that Press which they all calumniated, and upon which
they all were obliged to depend. Their Lordships were
told that some of the present holders of place were not so
be permanent,- that they were merely like the double of tl 40
trench theatres. The rapidity with which the Right
Hon. Gentleman who firmed the Cabinet when disap-
pointed in one quarter turned to another, his junction with
.he Whigs at the very Moment that he parted from his
lon, friends, must have reminded them of the quotation in
the Anti-Jacobin, for the Right HOD. Gentleman was
:amiliar with quotations--" A sudden thought strikes use :
et us swear eternal friendship."—(Laughter.)--The coali-
tion thus formed had been described as " unnatural ard.
unprecedented." Unprecedented it might be in some
respects ; but for his (Lord Mansfield's) part, he thought
:t was very natural and justifiable; but he had his doubts
whether it was quite sudden.—(A laugh.)—Those wile
had marked the progress of circumstances for some time
past must have looked upon this coalition as very na-
tural. Its approach might have been perceived in many
.)f the recent measures, where the opinions of one side of the
House were patronised and glopted by the other, and where
`tom day to day the approaches in one quarter were very
:avourably received by the other. The coalition, then,
vhatever might be thought of it in other respects, could
sot be said to be unnatural. But, leaving this junction to
work its way, there was one great point to which he was
inxious, before he concluded, to call their Lordships' atten-
tion : i:liat was the Catholic question. It would be recol-
Lvted, that that measure had been proposed and carried in
' the other House, though it was rejected by their Lordships.
It was, he believed, understood, that it was not the inten-
tion of the Right Hon. Gentleman at .the head of the Go-
aernment to introduce it at preient. The Catholics of
Ireland were advised, and their priests would repeat the
idvice, to observe for the present a morbid and lethar.
tic stillness,—" to seem like the flower but .to be
.he serpent under it." But their Lordships would net
)e deceived by that course. They must not wait until
this plan had produced its effect.. They could not, how-
Ter, wait until Members of his (Mr. Canning's) opinions
had been introduced into that House; and he should,
therefore, on the 4th of June, submit a motion to their
Lordships. It was not necessary to mention the precise words
if that motion at present ; but its effect would be to rnovo
their Lordships to adopt resolutions in favour of Catholic
emancipation--emancipation in the fullest sense in which
the word was ever applied ; or to elicit a declaration tt
the contrary, such as became a Protestant House of Parlia..
:vent, and such as he believed no King, since the time of
James 11., had been advised to refuse.
1 Viscount GODERICH said, that it was with no small
anxiety that he felt himself compelled to address their Lord,
;hips; anxiety arising, partly from his being so lately
;ailed to that House, and partly from the undisguised dis-
.nay which he felt at having to contend with individuals,
old to differ from persons, for whom he must be allowed
to say, he felt as much respect as any Noble Lord in that
House. He had not witnessed the separation which bad
.occurred in the King's Councils without, he could assure
their Lordships, feelings of regret, which all honourable
,ninds could understand and appreciate. He was sorry that
iris Noble Friends had felt it their duty to withdraw their•
services at a moment when it was peculiarly to be wished
that they should continue them. - ~A Right Honourable
Friend of his, not a member. of that House, lead withdrawn
uis services because he was of opinion he could not form
a part of a Cabinet with a friend to Catholic Exuan.
zipation at its head ; but .he could not
,conceive that
his other Noble Friends had witheliaain from a : simi-
lar opinion, because the GovernMent of 'Lord* LiVer.
pool did not exclude persons who entertained sentiments
favourable to Catholic emancipation. If he had thought