. Gladstone and Lord Clarendon
were for informing the Roman court that they were cognizant of the French
despatches, and approved of their tenour. The Queen and the cabinet,
however, were entirely averse to meddling with the council, and nothing
was done officially. This did not prevent Mr. Gladstone from telling
Archbishop Manning what impediments would be placed in the way of Irish
legislation by the state of English feeling as to the Syllabus and other
papal proceedings. "_My_ feelings and convictions," he says (April 16),
"are as you well know decidedly with your 'opposition,' which I believe to
be contending for the religious and civil interests of mankind against
influences highly disastrous and menacing to both. But the prevailing
opinion is that it is better to let those influences take their course,
and work out the damage which they will naturally and surely entail upon
the see of Rome and upon what is bound to it." In parliament there was an
utter aversion to the Roman policy, and he gives instances, noting even a
change of opinion about the Irish land bill. "What I have described is no
matter of speculation. I know it by actual and daily touch. I am glad you
have moved me to state it in some detail. It is to me matter of profound
grief, especially as regards land in Ireland."

To Lord Acton:--

Of all the prelates at Rome, none have a finer opportunity, to
none is a more crucial test now applied, than to those of the
United States. For if there, where there is nothing of covenant,
of restraint, or of equivalent between the church and the state,
the propositions of the Syllabus are still to have the countenance
of the episcopate, it becomes really a little difficult to
maintain in argument the civil rights of such persons to
toleration, however conclusive be the argument of policy in favour
of granting it. I can hardly bring myself to speculate or care on
what particular day the foregone conclusion is to be finally
adopted. My grief is sincere and deep, but it is at the whole
thing, so ruinous in its consequences as they concern faith. In my
view, the size of the minority, though important, is not nearly so
important as the question whether there will be a minority at all.

There was a minority. In a division taken at a late stage, 451 composed
the majority, 88 resisted, and 62 were for a new examination. Then the
minority turned their backs on Rom