(Mr. Joy), addressing the court, intimated that, if the defendant desired to traverse in prox.-in other words, to avail himself of his right to defer entering his plea to the indictment until the next commission, the Crown would not object, provided its consent were asked, but they must contest the right, if asserted, as setting a dangerous precedent. Mr. Holmes and Mr. Perrin agreed that the right was, in point of law, incontestable under various statutes. Mr. O'Connell cited many authorities, and referred to the case of the Seven Bishops, who had been refused permission in 1688 to traverse in prox.-a decision solemnly declared unjust and illegal. "It is our undoubted right here, and we will not accept it as a favour." The court pronounced their unhesitating opinion that the right existed; and intimated that Mr. Sheil might stand out upon his own recognizance until the ensuing commission. On the evening of the same day the Attorney-General sailed for England.

CHAPTER XI.

1827.

Mr. Canning premier-Suspension of agitation-Nolle prosequi -King's counsel — Accident to Mr. Sheil while riding— Death of Mr. Canning-Lord Manners-Renewal of agitation-Lord Anglesea Viceroy-Agrarian disturbances— Wealth of the Established Church.

On the 27th February, six weeks after the death of the Duke of York, Lord Liverpool, who for fifteen years had held the office of Prime Minister, was struck with fatal illness. The bond which so long had held together the coalition of friends and opponents of religious liberty, was suddenly dissolved, and all parties awaited the result with breathless anxiety. The pause was long, and as day after day rolled by without any announcement of a solution, the public began to have a sense, though a dim and imperfect

one, of the difficulties that encompassed the situation. We now read the events of that singular interlude between the great acts of ostensible history, with the help of many lights that were then borne in the dark lanthorns of "private and confidential" communication. The King, engrossed, as usual, with selfish solicitude for his own ease and enjoyment, was full of fair and false words, alternately for Canning and for Eldon. He asked the advice of each apart, and affected to be swayed by both in turn. At first he was full of the idea that the leader of the Commons might easily be flattered into retaining the secondary post he had hitherto filled, by being allowed to choose his new superior. George IV. tried every means to persuade him that an anti-Catholic peer would alone be able to command a majority in the Lords, and that consequently there was no choice but to seek, if possible, another premier like Lord Liverpool. But Canning had grown weary of subserviency, and had taken his resolve. Instead of opposing his Majesty's proposal, he at once acquiesced in it so far as to declare that he would throw no difficulty in the way, and that he should cheerfully retire in order that the experiment might be fairly made of forming a cabinet united in resistance to all concession. But was this

His

possible? Canning declared that he did not think it impracticable, although it might be difficult. Majesty professed to be sensible of his magnanimity, and forthwith set about the generous task.*

The veteran Chancellor was ready to make the attempt; but Mr. Peel declined to join, feeling that in the balanced state of parties in the House of Commons, and remembering that "he differed from every one of his colleagues in that House on the Catholic question,"† such an attempt would be vain. Mr. Canning was again summoned, and told by the Sovereign that he was regarded by him as indispensable to the public service, but that, as in a new coalition he must necessarily possess the greatest share of practical influence, more especially after the confession of the high Tory section that they feared to alienate him, he ought to be content with appointing one of them to be the nominal head of the administration, leaving all questions and measures to be freely discussed and dealt with as they arose. Canning, however, saw his position clearly, and told his disingenuous sovereign that he could not submit to be excluded for life, avowedly on account of his * Speech of Mr. Canning, 1st May, 1827.

Letter of Mr. Peel to Lord Eldon, 9th April, 1827. Life of Lord Eldon, vol. ii., p. 589.

opinions, from an office which otherwise he was deemed qualified to fill, and that to accept a subordinate office under a person confessedly selected for his want of equal fitness, would be the most palpable and humiliating recognition of such a rule.* He did not pretend to have higher claims to the premiership than other men; but as he had consented to serve under one of those from whom he differed on the Catholic question, they could not reasonably object to serve under him with whom, on that single point, they did not agree. Personal fitness for the exalted trust was the only ground of choice he could understand; any other would be irreconcilable with that entire equality respecting opinions which had heretofore been acknowledged as the only honourable basis of a coalition.

The King was unable to overcome these spirited resolutions, but, unwilling to forego all hope of extrication from the conflicting doubts to which his mind was a prey, he continued still to waver. Intimations, couched in the form of deprecation, but which sounded in the royal ear not very unlike menace, were made on the 31st March by eight noble borough-owners, that, in the event of Mr. Canning's appointment as

* Speech of Mr. Canning, 1st May, 1827.