e and civilisation, the first step has been taken in
the arrest of the man who unhappily from motives which I do not
challenge, which I cannot examine and with which I have nothing to
do, has made himself beyond all others prominent in the attempt to
destroy the authority of the law, and to substitute what would end
in being nothing more or less than anarchical oppression exercised
upon the people of Ireland.

The arrest of Mr. Parnell was no doubt a pretty considerable strain upon
powers conferred by parliament to put down village ruffians; but times
were revolutionary, and though the Act of parliament was not a wise one,
but altogether the reverse of wise, it was no wonder that having got the
instrument, ministers thought they might as well use it. Still executive
violence did not seem to work, and Mr. Gladstone looked in a natural
direction for help in the milder way of persuasion. He wrote (December
17th) to Cardinal Newman:--

I will begin with defining strictly the limits of this appeal. I
ask you to read the inclosed papers; and to consider whether you
will write anything to Rome upon them. I do not ask you to write,
nor to tell me whether you write, nor to make any reply to this
letter, beyond returning the inclosures in an envelope to me in
Downing Street. I will state briefly the grounds of my request,
thus limited. In 1844, when I was young as a cabinet minister, and
the government of Sir R. Peel was troubled with the O'Connell
manifestations, they made what I think was an appeal to Pope
Gregory XVI. for his intervention to discourage agitation in
Ireland. I should be very loath now to tender such a request at
Rome. But now a different case arises. Some members of the Roman
catholic priesthood in Ireland deliver certain sermons and
otherwise express themselves in the way which my inclosures
exhibit. I doubt whether if they were laymen we should not have
settled their cases by putting them into gaol. I need not describe
the sentiments uttered. Your eminence will feel them and judge
them as strongly as I do. But now as to the Supreme Pontiff. You
will hardly be surprised when I say that I regard him, if apprised
of the facts, as responsible for the conduct of these priests. For
I know perfectly well that he has the means of silencing them; and
that, if any one of them were in public to dispute th