^:T. 49.] CANNING. 479 



in the Commons, with the exception of a personal 

 conflict soon after he took office, and in his measures we 

 almost entirely agreed. Our co-operation, indeed, was 

 pretty constant. 



The political death of Lord Liverpool took place in 

 February 1827; and Canning was, soon after that 

 event, sent for by the King. In the preliminary dis- 

 cussion he had with George IV., Canning remained 

 perfectly consistent on the question of Catholic eman- 

 cipation, stating distinctly to the King that he should, 

 whether in or out of office, act as regarded that ques- 

 tion precisely as he had hitherto done. He then com- 

 municated with Peel and Wellington : the latter, after 

 expressing for him the greatest consideration, frankly 

 stated he should quit the Government, as he could 

 not consent to hold office under a minister favourable 

 to the Eoman Catholic claims. 



It was confidently asserted, and by many believed, 

 that Peel had advised the King to intrust to Welling- 

 ton the construction of the new Government. This 

 Wellington expressly denied when the explanation of 

 the late ministers was given in the House of Lords, on 

 the 2d of May 1827. He not only denied that the 

 King had ever proposed to him to take the Govern- 

 ment, but he emphatically expressed his conviction 

 that he was unfit for it, concluding with these words 

 "My Lords, I should have been worse than mad 

 if I had thought of such a thing." 



Peel also resigned. He and the others who fol- 

 lowed his example were greatly abused by many of 

 the high Tory party, with whom they got no credit 

 for having resigned because of the Catholic question. 

 Their real motives were attributed to personal hostility 



