AND TEE DUKES OF RICEMOND. 141 



in the habit of following the Government, but he was 

 happy to see that in this instance they had thought 

 it necessary, in defence of the Protestant religion, to 

 make a stand against the Government." All opposi- 

 tion to the bill was in vain, the third reading being 

 carried by 213 against 109. Lord Eldon, who was 

 a strong opponent, declared that he would sooner lay 

 down his existence that very night, than awake to 

 the reflection that he had consented to an act which 

 would stamp him as a traitor to our constitution. 



The noble Duke delivered a most efi'ective speech 

 upon the subject, saying that a noble Earl (Wicklow) 

 had called upon those who opposed the Government 

 to state what they would wish to substitute in its 

 place. " No opinion of his upon this point could have 

 much weight with their Lordships, and therefore he 

 would quote- that of a higher legal authority, who, 

 after having argued the question at considerable 

 length, and declared that the granting of emancipa- 

 tion would be the upsetting of the Protestant Church, 

 being asked what he proposed to substitute for eman- 

 cipation, said, ' I do not know that I ought to be re- 

 quired to answer such a question, my answer therefore 

 is, that I am not a member of his Majesty's Govern- 

 ment. I am not one of the Ministers of the Crown ; 

 I have no connection with the Government ; I am not 

 united to them otherwise than by the respect I owe 

 to the individuals of which it is composed. It would 



