24

MR. O'CONNELL BAFFLED.

[1831. and, in opposition to all the shifts and devices which Mr. O'Connell's ingenuity suggested, so long as the act above-mentioned remained in force, they were successful, and Mr. O'Connell was not only prevented in all his attempts to organize his agitating forces, but was himself, with certain others, prosecuted for having held various meetings in violation of the Lord-Lieutenant's proclamations, and for having conspired to violate and evade them. From this prosecution he endeavoured to escape by the aid of every possible shift, delay, form, and pretence. The government, now under the guidance of Mr. Stanley, held firmly to its purpose; and, at length, Mr. O'Connell not only withdrew his demurrer, which he had used as an artifice to persuade the people that the charge against him was bad in law, but also, subsequently, his plea of not guilty, which he had originally pleaded to certain of the counts in the indictment. This happened on the 12th of February, a few days after parliament met; and the transactions connected with the trial, and the government of Ireland, quickly formed a topic of discussion in both Houses; and excited some attention until the Reform Bill was proposed and absorbed all other topics of interest in itself. We shall soon see that Mr. O'Connell skilfully took advantage of the ministerial difficulties, and made a release from all the consequences of the conviction obtained by the Crown against him, the price of his support in parliament. There was indeed no formal understanding of this sort between the government and Mr. O'Connell-the

1831.] REFORM CONTEMPLATED BY MINISTERS.

25

It

time had not yet come for such an occurrence. will, however, be seen that Mr. O'Connell was spoken of in parliament, that the ministry were questioned as to the course they intended to pursue, and that though Mr. Stanley asserted, with much of eagerness, if not acerbity, that the law would take its course, such was not the result.

Such then was the unsettled and excited condition both of England and Ireland. The people, however, were generally full of hope. We were at peace with all the world, and though in some cases and among some classes distress might exist, the amount of this distress was not sufficient to weaken the nation, or to make its rulers desponding as to our future destiny. Reforms were needed-they were asked for, and expected-and men looked anxiously, but with hope, to the parliament which was now again to meet. Many, however, were the perils to be encountered by the measure so much desired by the people before it could be brought forward to undergo the ordeal of public discussion in parliament. The king, who had expressed no objections to Lord Grey, upon his stating that he must, if he accepted office, propose some measure of reform, was nevertheless anxious that no plan should be proposed during the present session-and with him, in this wish, strange to say, some in the cabinet coincided, who had, before they became ministers, been the most ardent in pressing the matter upon the attention of parliament. The intrigues which then took place will probably be

26

REFORM BILL FRAMED.

[1831.

hidden for many years to come, possibly they may never be completely discovered-but this much is clear; the original intention of the ministers respecting reform became much modified during the discussion of the measure to be proposed to parliament; that what was originally conceived to be sufficient, fell far short of what was eventually proposed; and that this increase in the amount of concession was chiefly owing to the great and growing demands of the people themselves. Report indeed says, that Lord Durham was the person in the cabinet who was first moved by the popular wishes, and who most strenuously in the cabinet insisted on the necessity of a very liberal measure of reform; and that the Lord Chancellor was among the most timid, and was the least inclined spontaneously to grant those changes which the people so ardently desired. The first disposition of my mind,' said Lord Grey, on the 28th of March, certainly was to limit the reform within a much narrower compass, but after full consideration, and after having discussed the subjects with my colleagues, I was convinced that nothing short of the present measure was likely to lead to the satisfactory result of fulfilling the wishes of all classes and of giving to the government security and respect.''

เ

1 Sir Robert Peel said in the House of Commons, on the 19th of April, 1831, 'But I well know-for I heard it from the noble Earl himself that at the close of last year the measure of reform contemplated by Earl Grey was of a more moderate nature-yes, far more moderate than that which is now proposed. The present Lord Chancellor, too, said the same thing.'

1831.]

THE KING ALARMED.

27

The secret history of this period is to be found in the letters of the ministers of that day, and in their correspondence with the king through Sir Herbert Taylor; the time may come when these letters may see the light;-now, however, we can only obtain some furtive glimpses of the facts as they occurred, and I have good reason to know that the description here given of the state of the king's mind is perfectly accurate. From the commencement he looked with great dislike upon the mere proposal of bringing in such a measure; -the measure proposed he considered a most dangerous and far too extensive a change, and nothing but terror of the probable consequence of such a proceeding, prevented him putting an end at once to the whole scheme by dismissing the Whig ministry. They were forced upon him much against his inclination, and he was glad of every defeat they encountered, and impatiently awaited an opportunity which might permit him to evince his dislike. He was, though a weak man, yet a very finished dissembler, and succeeded in making some at least of his ministers believe that they enjoyed his personal favour, when they were the objects of his most inveterate hate. We shall, in the sequel, see how eagerly he seized upon the first excuse which accident afforded, and the declining popularity of the Whigs permitted him to adopt, for ignominiously dismissing the whole administration at a blow: and that too when he was employing to them individually expressions of the utmost regard and confidence. And we shall find in

28

COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE

[1831.

all the transactions about to be related that much of that hesitation and want of vigour in the ministers, which often called down upon them the blame of reformers, and much of the real difficulty they had to overcome, either was directly caused, or seriously increased by the vehement, though suppressed hostility of the king to many of his ministers personally, and to the great measure they were about to propose for acceptance to parliament.'

But whatever might be the views of Lord Grey as to the extent of the reform to be attempted, he was steadfast to his promise and pledge, as to making the attempt. And for the purpose of framing a large and comprehensive plan, he appointed a committee to discuss the whole subject, and report upon it to the cabinet. This committee consisted of Lord Durham, > his own son-in-law, who was perfectly acquainted with Lord Grey's views on the subject of Lord Duncannon, who was supposed to be well versed in borough history and details, more especially in Ireland, -of Sir James Graham, who was popular with the more ardent reformers, and at that time deemed

1

The discussions on the civil list greatly offended the king, and he appealed to the law officers to know whether the House of Commons had the power of doing what their committee recommended with respect to certain salaries. The king remarked, that parliamentary reform was said to be desired, in order to give the people exclusive influence over the House of Commons. If such be its effect, said he, the authority which the committees appear to be usurping, will be transferred from the Crown to the people.