where then was the Roman Catholic that would not extend to others that privilege on which he set so high an appreciation? It was notorious to every man who had ever read the history of the early persecutions, that the Christians underwent martyrdom, not on account of the profession of particular tenets, but because they would not assist in the rites employed in the Roman temples in connexion with the religion of the State. The martyrology of the early Church was pregnant with these illustrious examples. The honour paid to the Host touches the very point on which Catholics and Protestants differ; and Captain Atcheson was justified in feeling that an implied recognition of the Eucharist was exacted from him. Instead of making allowance for conscientious scruples, this unfortunate gentleman was eight months afterwards, dismissed the service. This ought not to have been; and the House was bound to procure him redress."*

On supporting the motion of Mr. Tennyson D'Eyncourt, for leave to bring in a bill to limit the duration of Parliament to three years, Mr. Sheil taunted Ministers with having so soon forgotten the opinions they had professed so recently regarding the * Hansard, 1833; vol. xix., p. 787.

constitutional propriety of taking the sense of the country, even during periods of party excitement. Lord J. Russell, when bringing in the Reform Bill, had declared that he left the duration of Parliament an open question. The Reform Bill was in some sort founded in theory; but to re-enact the triennial bill would simply be to go back to the oldest and best precedents of our history. The power of the House of Commons had indeed been much augmented by the Reform Act, but that was a reason why it ought not to be suffered to be too long-lived. The discretion vested in the national trustees had indeed. been greatly increased; then it was all the more reasonable that the cestui que trust should more frequently have the opportunity of calling their trustees to account, and of changing them if they thought fit to do so.

The success which, during this session, had attended many of his efforts, and the facility he found in adapting himself more and more to the customary tone of debate, led him to think seriously of relinquishing finally all ideas of professional advancement. Law was at best for him an uncongenial pursuit; and its secondary rewards laboriously earned, contrasted ill with those which Parliamentary dis

tinction held forth as easier of attainment, though more precarious and uncertain. While in Ireland during the autumn, he asked the advice of Mr. Perrin as to whether he should continue to seek for business at the Irish bar, or abandoning it altogether, confine his attention to political studies and avocations? His friend hesitated about giving an opinion on a subject of so much personal importance; but inclined to recommend an adherence to the profession, in certain branches of which he considered Mr. Sheil highly qualified to excel. At Nisi Prius for example, he would be tolerably sure of being frequently engaged; and he might fairly expect in due time to attain eminence and emolument. In reply to these suggestions, however, Mr. Sheil urged with truth the difficulties that encompassed any man who did not continuously devote his attention to the technical details of pleading and of practice; and after placing the matter in various points of view he summed up all by saying"How could I ever be safe, after I had sat up all night at a case, that when I came into court in the morning our friend Tom Smith with his watchmaker's eye, would not be ready to point out some flaw in it?"

Notwithstanding such apprehensions he still con

tinued at intervals to make his appearance in court, influenced rather by a sort of irresolution respecting the formal abandonment of his profession, than from any desire to affect having business. His visits, however, grew less and less frequent, and after a year or two he wholly laid aside the gown.

CHAPTER XVI.

1834.

Who is the traitor ?-Lord Althorp's statement-Mr. C. Buller and Mr. Fonblanque-Committee of Privileges-ReportDebate on acquittal-Russia and Turkey-Irish Church question-Secession of Lord Stanley and his friends-Lord Melbourne Premier-Lord Duncannon-Dismissal of the Whigs-Sir Robert Peel's Cabinet-Dissolution of Parliament.

WE now approach the most painful, and as regards his personal character, the most important trial which during a long and varied public life, he was destined to undergo. Great irritation had been caused by the resistance offered in Parliament to the Coercion Bill, and during the autumn many proofs were afforded on both sides of the Channel, that the feelings of exasperation thus excited were not likely soon to pass away. Amongst other topics of mutual recrimination was that which regarded the smallness