e last moment. If Canning had lived, God knows what
would have happened, for they never would have turned round for
him as they are now about to do for the Duke. The circumstances
of the case are just the same; since 1825 the same game has been
going on in Ireland, and in the same manner, and the Clare
election was only what had happened at Waterford before. All
this has given a blow to the aristocracy, which men only laugh
at now, but of which the effects will be felt some day or other.
Who will have any dependence hereafter on the steadiness and
consistency of public men, and what credit will be given to
professions and declarations? I am glad to see them dragged
through the mire, as far as the individuals are concerned, but I
am sorry for the effect that such conduct is likely to produce.
There was a capital paper of Cobbett's yesterday, in his best
style. Many Liberals are uneasy about what are called the
securities, and when the Duke tells Lord Colchester that if he
will wait he will be satisfied with the Bill, it is enough to
make them so; but my hopes predominate over my fears. Yesterday
Vesey Fitzgerald said that 'we had not yet seen what some people
might consider the objectionable parts of the measure, but that,
though certain things might be necessary, the Government are
impressed with the paramount necessity of not leaving the
Catholic question behind them, and that the Duke was a man of
too firm a mind not to go through with it;' and I think he said
distinctly that Catholics and Protestants must be placed on an
equal footing, or something to that effect. He went off into a
panegyric on the Duke, and said that seeing him as he did for
several hours every day, he had opportunities of finding out
what an extraordinary man he was, and that it was remarkable
what complete ascendency he had acquired over all who were about
him. The English of this is (what everybody knew) that he
dictates to his Cabinet. The fact is, he is a man of great
energy, decision, and authority, and his character has been
formed by the events of his life, and by the extraordinary
circumstances which have raised him to a situation higher than
any subject has attained in modern times. That his great
influence is indispensable to carry this question, and therefore
most useful at this time, cannot be doubted, for he can address
the King in a style which no other Minister could adopt. He
treats with him as with an equal, and the King stands