for the second reading, vacillating and undecided, are too likely in the end to have their conduct guided by those who have more energy and determination, and who, I am sorry to say, see no object before them but that which may lead to a triumph over the Ministers, in their eagerness to obtain which all other considerations are overlooked.

This view of the case, I confess, depresses my spirits in the midst of all the congratulations I receive on the favourable course of events since Parliament met; and the means of averting the evils which I fear will infallibly result from another and more severe disappointment of the public expectation, are the subject of my constant thoughts by night and by day.

It gave me great pleasure to hear that the King had approved the sentiments which I expressed respecting Mr. O'Connell. You will have observed that this gentleman's conduct became the subject of some discussion in the House of Lords; and I thought it the best way to state the whole truth frankly, and without reserve, that I should have been glad, had it been possible, to attach a man whose influence and whose talents were so great, to the cause of good government, that no offer of any place had been made to him, and that none would be made after the conduct which he had again thought proper to pursue.

What has happened in Kilkenny entirely proves the necessity of an arrangement respecting Tithes; but this unfortunately, like other questions of the same nature, has been delayed too long. But what appears to me most indispensable to the peace and safety of Ireland is the attaching, by some provision, the Catholic

priesthood to the Government of the country. For this, in some respects, the moment is favourable; as the leaders of that Church are, at least some of the most powerful of them, at variance with O'Connell; and they must perceive, though he may avail himself of their assistance to pull down the Protestant Church, that the re-establishment of the former power and influence of the Catholic Church is the last thing in his conteinplation. I have, therefore, reason to believe that the moment would not be unpropitious for an arrangement.

But then the first step that was taken for this purpose, the whole of the Orange party would be out upon us as enemies of the Established Church, and intending to substitute a Catholic Church in its stead.

You will have seen that we have been already accused of this, both in speeches and resolutions, at the late meeting of the Protestant Association in Dublin.

But it is really time that I should finish; but I must add more distinctly what I hinted at in my letter to the King, that I shall be anxious, about the beginning of the next month, when all the circumstances of our present situation shall have been fully considered by the Cabinet, to be allowed an opportunity of laying our opinion of them, in person, fully before the King. I am, &c.

GREY.

No. 291.

Earl Grey to the King.

East Sheen, Dec. 19, 1831.

Earl Grey humbly craves your Majesty's pardon for not having sooner acknowledged your Majesty's most

gracious letter of the 17th, for which he trusts your Majesty will be pleased to make allowance on account of the constant and multifarious occupations of the last few days, and there not being anything which made it immediately necessary for him to trouble your Majesty.

Earl Grey anticipated the satisfaction which the division in the House of Commons would afford your Majesty; the debate was not less triumphant than the division, and Mr. Stanley distinguished himself more than ever. He exposed all the fallacies, and completely destroyed the effect of Mr. Croker's speech; and the impression left by him upon the House was so strong, that Sir R. Peel could do nothing against it.

If the effect of this should be to convince a majority of the House of Lords of the inexpediency of offering a further opposition to the Bill, it will be most fortunate for the country. If, on the contrary, now that the public expectation has been raised to a higher pitch than ever, the new Bill should be rejected, the consequences may be most calamitous.

To avert these, it will be the duty of your Majesty's Ministers to apply themselves most earnestly to the consideration of a state of things which, under any supposition except that of the general expression of public opinion, and the decisive majority of the House of Commons, producing on the House of Lords the effect which, in all former times, would have been certain, present on every side difficulties and dangers of the most serious nature; and Earl Grey ventures to express his hope that your Majesty will allow him an opportunity, before Parliament re-assembles, of laying

personally before your Majesty all the considerations which must determine the conduct to be pursued in a situation of affairs more delicate and more difficult than any that has occurred even in the eventful period of the last thirty years.

Earl Grey begs leave to offer to your Majesty his grateful acknowledgments for the kind intentions which influenced your Majesty's late communication with the Archbishop of Canterbury. He cannot but lament the weakness and indecision which appear to be the prevailing features in his Grace's character, and which are too likely to make him act ultimately in obedience to the dictates of those, whose hostility to the Administration seems to make them overlook the dangers which their success might bring upon the country. If Earl Grey ventured to express some regret at your Majesty's having disclosed to the Archbishop of Canterbury your disapprobation of the elective franchise to the metropolitan districts, it was only from a fear that this knowledge might produce effects in the progress of the measure, which might prove extremely embarrassing to the Government.

All which, &c.

No. 292.

GREY.

The King to Earl Grey.

Brighton, Dec. 22, 1831.

The King received yesterday Earl Grey's letter dated on the 19th inst., and he assures him that he is too well aware of his unceasing and multifarious occupa

tions to require his excuses for not immediately acknowledging His Majesty's letters.

Earl Grey's report of the manner in which Mr. Stanley distinguished himself in the debate on last Saturday night, and exposed the fallacies of Mr. Groker's speech, confirms the accounts which His Majesty had received from other quarters, and he cannot but hope that the character and result of this discussion in the House of Commons, added to other circumstances of recent occurrence, will have a salutary effect upon the proceedings in Committee, and upon the subsequent consideration of the question in the House of Lords.

The King is quite alive to the importance which attaches to a satisfactory issue of this critical question, and to the many serious consequences which would attend the rejection of the new Bill, and he trusts that the feeling which may be shown when it is again introduced in the House of Lords, will be such as to dissipate the uneasiness which Earl Grey appears to feel at this moment, and which His Majesty admits to be very natural at the eve of a struggle, upon the issue of which so much of the general interest and the peace of the country would seem to depend. Nor can he otherwise than concur in the wisdom of being prepared for the event which it is so desirable to avert, and in the propriety and necessity of his Ministers applying themselves, during the present interval, most earnestly to the consideration of a state of things which may become pregnant with extreme difficulty and danger, and may require to be treated with great delicacy and circumspection.

His Majesty will be glad to receive Earl Grey before