the report. I have now given all the information in my
power, and it enables me to concur with the honourable gentleman that
these reports were fabricated for a wicked and malicious purpose. With
respect to the state of Ireland, I may only add, that by the letters
which I have received from the lord-lieutenant, it appears that Sir
Charles Napier had arrived at Cork with his squadron, with an able and
ample body of troops, who, I am sure, are always ready to discharge
their duty with unflinching bravery, and who are, therefore, entirely
free from the imputations which the reports circulated this day have
unfoundedly cast upon them."

Lord Lansdowne was also questioned in the House of Lords, and made
a similar reply, when the Marquis of Londonderry, in a very spirited
maimer and amidst the applause of the house, inculpated the government
for allowing the agitation in Ireland to rise to such a head, arguing
that had the seditious writing, speaking, and acting of the confederates
been timely prevented, the law would have been vindicated, public peace
and order undisturbed, and many thousands of poor deluded men would have
been saved from wandering after the _ignis fatuus_ of the Confederation.
This philippic was well deserved by the government; had they really
desired that the pear should ripen before they plucked it, they could
not have proceeded otherwise than they did. The insurrection might have
been crushed in the bud had the government exercised proper wisdom
and firmness. It will scarcely be believed that during these exciting
transactions, any member of the legislature would have the folly to
introduce measures for repealing the union or holding parliaments in
Ireland. There were, however, such persons: Fergus O'Connor and John
O'Connell repeatedly advocated repeal, and Mr. R. M. Fox gave notice
of a motion for holding a parliament in Ireland, which, on the 26th,
he withdrew, amidst the derisive laughter of the house, the honourable
member assuring it that he deprecated the union of repealers and
republicans in Ireland. The government and the legislature were very
much strengthened by the support which the executive received from
Sir Robert Peel. In one of the debates upon the political condition of
Ireland during that memorable week, Sir Robert, with great warmth and
energy of manner, said, "He was prepared to give his unqualified support
to the government. He trusted in the veracity of the ministers when
they sta