rate capacity and easy nature there seemed
nothing to excite alarm. "Bonhomie"--shame that we must steal a French
word for an English quality!--was his great characteristic; and all who
came within the circle of his acquaintance felt themselves fascinated by
his free and unpretending demeanor.

To him was now intrusted the task of sowing schism among the members of
the Irish party,--the last and only resource of the English Government
to thwart the progress of national independence. The Opposition had
almost every element of strength. Amongst them were the first and most
brilliant orators of the day,--men trained to all the habits of debate,
and thoroughly masters of all Irish questions. They possessed the entire
confidence of the great body of the people, asserting, as they did, the
views and sentiments of the country; and they were, what at that time
had its own peculiar value, men of great boldness and intrepidity. There
was but one feature of weakness in the whole party, and this was the
almost inevitable jealousy which is sure to prevail where many men of
great abilities are mixed up together, and where the success of a party
must alternately depend upon qualities the most discrepant and opposite.
The very purest patriotism is sure to assume something of the character
of the individual; and in these varying tints of individuality the Irish
Government had now to seek for the chance of instilling those doubts and
hesitations which ultimately must lead to separation.

Nor was this the only artifice to which they descended. They also
invented a policy which in later days has been essayed with very
indifferent success, which was, to outbid the national party in
generosity, and to become actual benefactors where mere justice was
asked at their hands,--a very dangerous game, which, however well
adapted for a critical emergency, is one of the greatest peril as a line
of policy and a system of government. In the spirit of this new tactic
was it that Mr. Bagenal's motion to confer some great mark of national
gratitude on Mr. Grattan was quickly followed by an offer of the Viceroy
to bestow upon him the Viceregal palace in the Phoenix Park, as "a
suitable residence for one who had conferred the greatest services on
his country, and as the highest proof the Government could give of their
value of such services." A proposal of such unbounded generosity was
sure to dim the lustre of the popular enthusiasm, and at the same time