1829.] Ireland, the Orangemen, a7id the Papists. 135 



strance would reach him on the subject ; no one feat of his ducal caprice 

 would be more willingly hailed as an attempt to canvass popularity. 

 *rhe act of justice would have the nature of an act of charity, and cover 

 a multitude of sins. 



But we cordially hope that Lord Eldon will ditdain all alliance Avith 

 the present cabinet, let the terms be what they may. From the moment 

 of his entering it, his public uses would be gone ; he would have lost the 

 confidence of Protestantism, and the public respect v.ould vanish from 

 him totally and for ever. The truth is, that the nation has formed 

 "an opinion of the Duke of Wellington, against which the slow born 

 popularity of the venerable ex-chancellor would be but as a straw thrown 

 into the fire. The universal feeling would be, that he was duped — 

 brought in to give some specious strength to a tottering administration, 

 and when he had done what was required to keep it alive, insulted and 

 cast out. Is there no moral in the fall of Sir. Peel, or, as the Duke 

 has expressly phrased it, in the " sacrifice of his political existence ?" 

 ]\Ir. Peel held a high rank, on the gi-ound of his being supposed the 

 staunch advocate of Protestantism, and on this ground alone, for no 

 man respected him for any peculiar ability. To mention him with the 

 race gone by, the Pitts, Burkes, or Foxes, would be the bitterest bur- 

 lesque. He was not fit to carry the shoes even of Canning. But it was 

 necessary to destroy this man's influence j for his influence gone, his 

 ability was nothing. He was offered temptation, and it subdued his 

 weakness. From that instant all fears of his proving an antagonist were 

 at an end. His apostacy cut away his strength ; and the Duke of Wel- 

 lington might turn him out to-morrow, and will turn him out the 

 moment he finds it convenient, with as much ease, and as little reason 

 to dread the consequences of the insult, as if the Home Secretary were 

 one of his chambermaids. Lord Eldon is a senator of another rank. 

 To compare his faculties with those of Mr. Peel, would be to stigmatize 

 them. 



But if Lord Eldon shall join the Duke of Wellington, he will find 

 himself rehearsing the catastrophe of the Home Secretary, within twenty- 

 four hours after. The coalition will sink him at once, disarm him of his 

 influence, and leave him at the mercy of the Premier. Is there 

 nothing in the fate of ]Mr. Huskisson ? A man of unquestionable ability, 

 and, as such, only dishonoured by a comparison v/ith JMr. Peel. On 

 Mr. Canning's death, ]\Ir. Huskisson was the natural leader of the House 

 of Commons. If he had the spirit of a mouse, he would have scorned 

 to ally liimself to the declared enemies of the statesman who had 

 raised him from obscurity ; sustained him, in defiance of many obscure 

 circumstances in his story ; made him member for what might have 

 been termed his own borough (Liverpool), and gave him the highest 

 office in his power. But IMr. Huskisson had not the spirit of a mouse, 

 but the spirit of a placeman ; and he accepted office under the Duke of 

 Wellington, whom he ought, in all political honour, to have resisted, and 

 whom he would have overthrown in the House of Commons. This no 

 man living knew better than his tempter. He gave way to the tempta- 

 tion, and was instantly shorn of his strength. AH the personal friends 

 of Mr. Canning- instantly abandoned him, and he was turned into a 

 cipher. His master thenceforth used him as a menial, for a menial he 

 was ; took him to task for his boastings at Liverpool, as unsuited to his 

 menialism ; and forced him to wash down his oi-atory into nonsense. In 

 three months more j\Ir. Huskisson would have been sent adrift. But he 

 anticipated his fate. Chagrin did what dignity of mind ought to have 

 done. He felt liis humiliation, and to right himself, played off a quarrel 



