JET. 51.] CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. 507 



pected refusal, to come into any measures of concilia- 

 tion, was thus felt to be the principal obstacle to 

 the proposal of an arrangement for Ireland ; and 

 I was then much impressed with the persuasion 

 (derived from many conversations in quarters that 

 had great weight with me) that the Duke was then 

 much disposed to settle the question of Ireland, 

 and was applying his thoughts very seriously to the 

 subject. 



" If Peel refuses to go on with the Duke in a con- 

 ciliatory measure for Ireland, his resignation would 

 overset the Administration in the House of Commons, 

 and force the Duke to an arrangement entirely new, 

 and that with the King previously irritated and 

 excited against it, which must at least lead to great 

 confusion and embarrassment. Nevertheless, upon 

 looking at the whole case in every light in which I 

 can present it to my own mind, I am still inclined to 

 give the Duke so far credit as to believe that it is impos- 

 sible that he should embark the country in a civil war 

 with his eyes open to the consequences ; and I think 

 he can hardly be sanguine enough to suppose that a 

 general rebellion and war in Ireland, however success- 

 ful the arms of England may be in the end even if 

 the ruin of Ireland and the destruction of a million of 

 lives were matters of indifference can be carried on 

 without the interference of France ; at first, perhaps, 

 by an offer of mediation, and afterwards by more de- 

 cisive measures, for which the treaty of 8th July 

 forms a happy model. The opportunity of hum- 

 bling Britain and revenging the occupation of Paris 

 would be too tempting to be resisted, either by the 

 bigot or the democratical party in France. From 



