18262], Ireland in 1826. 581 
before: the’ law,—-equally under the law's protection, ‘and»equally obe-. 
dientito its dictates..| To the nation, this alteration of hope and fear 
is /agitating and exciting, but it is wholesome. It is to) this cause they 
owe thevigorous constitutional effort, which has put the people really 
in possession \of that» legislative influence which had: hitherto, been 
formally conceded to no purpose. It is however chiefly ‘in. its influence 
upon society that) Iam now regarding this part of my subject. The 
King's wisit: to lreland, and the appointment of the Marquis of Wellesley 
to theilieutenancy, though in themselves indicative of a disposition 
jn the) British. cabinet: to “het the law remain as it stands,* produced 
among ‘the Catholics’ a sudden ‘burst of triumph and exultation; and, 
notwithstanding the failure of the Attorney-general’s prosecution of the 
bottle: rioters; paralyzed for awhile the energies of the Orangemen:. A 
very general conviction was impressed upon all classes that a new 
isystem was ‘to be entered upon; and a more liberal tone of feeling 
»was affectedand became fashionable in'society. Faces were seen at the 
Castle, formerly) known only in the mass-house and the inaggregate 
meetings. Liberals became courtiers, and courtiers became liberal ; 
BW BS!) Perque dies placidos, hiberno tempore, septem 
8 ous. > Incubat Halcyone. 
‘The secret of the internal dissentions of the ‘British cabinet, however, 
‘soon transpired, and the Orange party, conscious that their friends 
in that quarter could and would support them, became again assured 
‘that they were still placed above the law, and might set Lord’ Wellesle 
‘and ‘the Attorney-general at defiance. The superior influence of the 
‘Protestant | part of the cabinet, as exhibited in the distribution of such 
places as the law has left open to Catholic competition, was not to be mis- 
‘taken: “At first’ the nomination of one or two Catholic barristers to the 
‘Situation of ‘chairman to the sessions had led to a belief that it was the 
“intention to deal fairly between the two religions ; ; but latterly, ascen- 
“dancy ‘has triumphed not merely over justice and common ‘honesty, but 
“over the ministerial pretensions of Lord Wellesley and of Mr. Plunkett 
‘to provide for’ their own personal friends ; and there is not a single job- 
“bing magistrate in the province of Ulster who does not draw from the 
‘fact a scarcely ill-grounded conclusion, that his party may do its worst 
with impunity. 
sea the Orangeman this was matter of exultation; to the Catholics it 
as pregnant with irritation and disgust: and the latter, less grateful 
e. the mildness and toleration of Mr. Plunkett's official career, than 
pointed in their hope of an effectual support in their efforts to 
‘out their emancipation, have vented their displeasure in acrimo- 
Asti harangues alike against their friends and their enemies. This, 
wei nnatural, intemperance, while it has roused the Orangemen from 
“their raalomnaty acquiescence, has given no inconsiderable accession of 
Sa to the intolerant party in Downing-street, by the fears it has 
“excite ei the public peace; and the real progress of the Catholic 
cate, incéd by the failure of the bill for strangling the Association, 
wakened a new energy and spirit of resistance in the illiberals of 
aft Pa lasses.. The successful effort of the Catholic agitators to overthrow 
‘the tyranny of the landed influence, which formed one of the most 
‘ehatacteristic features of the current year, has carried this feeling to 
MAU Viole 2e) us on Se ee ee ee eee 
- - —_—- — 
hi Withes’ Lord W.’s declaration that he came to administer, and not to change the law. - 
