24 
opinions he was known to entertain 
of the catholic claims ; and if there 
had been any intention of bringing 
that subject into immediate discus- 
sion, or any probability of being 
akle to bring it forward in parlia- 
mentas a ministerial question, there 
can be no doubt that the objection 
would have been conclusive. But, 
unfortunately, lord Sidmouth was 
not singular in his opinions upon 
that matter. His majesty’s objec- 
tions to any further concession to 
his catholic subjects were unabated, 
and as they were founded on scru- 
ples of a religious nature, they were 
considered by those’ who best knew 
his character, to be wholly insur- 
mountable. 
jesty’s scruples remained in force, 
it seemed to, be, and was in fact, of 
little importance what part Jord 
Sidmouth was disposed to take in the 
question, should it happen ever to 
come into discussion while he was in 
office. The real point to be consi- 
dered, was, not whether Mr. Fox 
and lord Grenville ought to take 
lord Sidmouth into their adminis. 
tration; knowing his opinion of the 
catholic claims to be diametrically 
opposite to theirs, but whether they 
ought to come into office at all, 
without some express stipulation 
with their sovereign for redress of 
grievances to the catholics. In 
other words, when they foresaw 
that it would be impossible for them, 
by going into office, to carry the 
question of catholic emancipation, 
ought they not to have continued in 
opposition ? The determination of 
this as of most other points of prac- 
tical wisdom, where a balance must 
be struck between opposite incon- 
veniences, ought to depend, in a 
gréat degree, on the collateral cir- 
cumstances of the moment, It was 
But, while his ma-, 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1806, 
clear, that lord Grenville and Mr. 
Fox had better remain out of office, 
than forfeit the confidence of the 
catholics, and leave that numerous 
and powerful body, full of indigna- 
tion and resentment against all 
parties in England, to fall a prey to 
the arts and machinations of France. 
No good that could possibly result 
from their administration, would 
compensate so great an injury to 
their country. But, if the catholics 
were willing to postpone the discus- 
sion of their claims to another sea- 
son, and disposed not to petition 
again the same parliament, which 
had so recently refused to hearken 
to their complaints, was it necessary 
for Mr. Fox and lord Grenville to 
stand out upon a question, which 
they knew it was impossible for them 
at that moment to carry, and which 
those most deeply interested in its 
success were ready to defer till a 
more favourable opportunity ? Im- 
portant as they judged catholic 
emancipation to the welfare and 
safety of the state, was there no 
other service they could perform to 
their country ? Was it not worth 
trying, whether peace was unattain- 
able? Experience had shown that 
every effort to reduce the power of 
France upon the continent, had 
endedjinther further aggrandisement, 
and that the continuance of the war 
served only to increase the danger 
and difficulty of peace. A greater 
good could not be rendered to En- 
gland and to the world, than the res. 
toration of general tranquillity, and 
preservation of peace, though fora 
few years only. Was the probable 
chance of being able to confer so 
great a blessing on mankind, to 
be lightly, or without the most 
urgent necessity, thrown away ?. If 
somplete emancipation could not be 
procured 
