on the
success of that public measure, which he believes to be necessary for
the good of his country. I think it was perfectly honourable, perfectly
just, in my right honourable friend the late president of the board of
trade to relinquish office. The hon. gentleman thinks I ought to have
pursued the same course in 1829. That was precisely the course I wished
to pursue--it was precisely the course which I intended to pursue. Until
within a month of the period when I consented to bring forward the
measure for the relief of the Roman catholics, I did contemplate
retiring from office--not because I shrank from the responsibility of
proposing that measure--not from the fear of being charged with
inconsistency--not because I was not prepared to make the painful
sacrifice of private friendships and political connections, but because
I believed that my retirement from office would promote the success of
the measure. I thought that I should more efficiently assist my noble
friend in carrying that measure if I retired from office, and gave the
measure my cordial support in a private capacity. I changed my opinion
when it was demonstrated to me that there was a necessity for
sacrificing my own feelings by retaining office--when it was shown to me
that, however humble my abilities, yet, considering the station which I
occupied, my retiring from office would render the carrying of that
measure totally impossible--when it was proved to me that there were
objections in the highest quarters which would not be overcome unless I
was prepared to sacrifice much that was dear to me--when it was
intimated to my noble friend that there was an intention on the part of
the highest authorities in the church of England to offer a decided
opposition to the measure, and when my noble friend intimated to me that
he thought, if I persevered in my intention to retire, success was out
of the question. It was then I did not hesitate to say that I would not
expose others to obloquy or suspicions from which I myself shrunk.'

[169] _Gleanings_, vii. p. 118.

[170] 'Remarks upon recent Commercial Legislation suggested by the
expository statement of the Revenue from Customs, and other Papers
lately submitted to Parliament, by the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P.
for Newark.' London, Murray, 1845. Mr. Gladstone had written on the same
subject in the _Foreign and Colonial Quarterly Review_, January 1843.

[171] See his memorable work on Irish Disturbances,