is unnecessary to make any professions a to the abstract principle of not excluding men from civil rights on account of religious opinions. No man more readily assents to, or more cordially cherishes that principle than I do. But there are few circumstances in human life, I believe I may say none in politics, that can be reduced to mere abstractions. Expediency must operate in all, and he who pretends otherwise is either a hypocrite or unfit for the affairs of this world. If, therefore, the negative on the appointment of the bishops be a thing reasonable in itself; if it be a security which, considering the particular character of the papal power (nothing like which prevails in any other sect), may properly be required, either to allay fears or to obviate prejudices; if it is a point which cannot be stated to affect injuriously the rights of the Catholic Church, and to which we have something equal almost to positive proof that the Catholics feel no conscientious objection; above all, if we are morally certain that without it the question cannot be carried, and have pledged ourselves by recent declarations to an opinion of its expediency and importance, it seems to me that the interests of the Catholics, no less than our own consistency and honour, require that we should make an early declaration that this concession is indispensable to our future support of the cause." was forced upon them by the activity of a party of the most malignant description, who are still most assiduously, and, for want of resistance, I fear too successfully, employed in kindling and inflaming a general spirit like their own." As we have elsewhere related, the petition was rejected. Nor did this proceeding surprise Earl Grey. He advocated the removal of Catholic disabilities, but not an unconditional removal. "I do not imagine,” he wrote to Mr. Whitbread, "that anybody ever thought the claims of the Catholics were to be simply conceded without any securities against the dangers which might be apprehended from such a concession. Such, I am sure, was not Fox's opinion; and I well remember his answer when Pitt taunted him with his magnificent and sweeping way of doing things, without any regard to the provisions which might be necessary for the safety of the Protestant establishment; his answer was, 'that Pitt had no right to represent him as being less friendly to the establishment, or less anxious for its safety than he was; and that, undoubtedly, all proper securities ought to be taken.'" Still whenever the question was again. brought forward for discussion-and, as we know, it was again and again brought forward-it always received the support of the earl. He was indifferent to popularity or The course proposed by Earl Grey was unpopularity; he was also indifferent to objected to by the Duke of Bedford and the cry of "No popery" that his efforts Lord Grenville, and as unanimity on such drew forth. "I shall not fail to give," he a question was most desirable the sugges- said, "not a cold and reluctant, but the tion was not acted upon. Still Grey was most zealous support I can give, to the of opinion that he was in the right as to principles I believe to be sound, upon the the plan he had recommended. "Every-ground and with the explanations by which, thing I hear," he writes to Lord Grenville, as it appears to me, those principles ought "confirms me in the opinion that such a practically to be regulated. These opinions ineasure as I proposed afforded us the only are, after much reflection, so deeply fixed chance of again putting that important in my mind that I must act upon them, question on a footing which might enable and I must beg leave to lay all consideraus all to agree, or which could reconcile tions of popularity out of the question. either the king or the people of this coun- If popularity follows me in doing what try to it." Then he added-" But I am I believe to be right, I shall always be glad convinced that the resolution of the bishops of it; but I never have, and never will, VOL. I. 71 sacrifice one item of what I believe to be right to obtain it, any more than I would for court favour. The desire of the one may at one moment be imputed to me, and at the next the pursuit of the other, and I must trust that eventually my conduct will satisfy the public that neither imputation has been just. Now I have very little doubt it will be said, as you apprehend, that the last is my object; but, probably, a very short time will prove most unanswerably that it could not be so, when, in opposition, I believe, to the opinion of almost all my friends, I shall make the immediate settlement of this question the sine quâ non of my acceptance of office." Upon the foreign policy of the government Earl Grey was a vigilant critic. When Bonaparte was seeking, for his own family ends, to draw Spain under his iron yoke, Grey warmly sympathized with the people of the Peninsula. He branded Bonaparte as "a villain," and prophesied that he would push things too far at last. "This is indeed," he exclaimed, "a case in which no sacrifice would be too great. Men, money, ships, to the utmost extent that the country will afford them, ought to be sent without delay." The failure of the English in Spain he attributed to the incapacity of the government. "I am certainly one of those," he wrote, "who approved of giving assistance upon the largest scale to Spain, and who still think if a powerful army had been sent there in sufficient time, and upon a reasonable plan, it might have contributed to the ultimate defeat of Bonaparte's attack upon that country. . Of all the infamies ever incurred by a nation, I think the greatest would have been, in the then situation of affairs, to have appeared to abandon the Spaniards, or to have treated under the idea of acknowledging Joseph Bonaparte as king of Spain. I must think that we were bound by every tie that can bind a nation, both in interest and honour, to support the Spaniards as long as they have the means of resistance, and do not themselves abandon their own cause." As we know, the expedition to assist Spain turned out a failure, owing to the scant support Sir John Moore received from the Spaniards, and also owing, as the Opposition alleged, to the want of foresight of the government in not furnishing the proper transports and supplies. A vote of censure was moved by Earl Grey, who condemned ministers for their supineness and mismanagement, as contrasted with the activity and prudence of the enemy; for the inadequacy of the supplies sent to the army; and for the want of "any rational plan of operations, either for the direction of our own exertions, or for combining them with those of the Spanish and Portuguese nations; and thus that the hopes which the nation had been led to entertain have been disappointed; a large and useless expenditure of the means of the country had been incurred; a great and dangerous accession of political, naval, and military strength has already been attained by the enemy; and above 7000 of his Majesty's brave troops, together with their gallant commander, have been sacrificed without advantage in an enterprise without plan, combination, or foresight, and equally ill-timed and misdirected." A keen debate ensued, but the tactics of ministers carried the day, and the Opposition found itself again in a minority Yet the government was far from strong; divisions were rending it in twain upon the question of the Catholic claims and upon the foreign policy; Canning was a disturbing element, and it was rumoured that a dissolution would take place. "Ministers are more divided than ever," writes Grey, "and a very general sentiment prevails that they cannot stand. This language indeed is openly talked by some of the most considerable of their adherents, and even by some among themselves; and if I could persuade myself that anything would induce Canning to go out, I should believe from facts that have come to my knowledge since my arrival that his determination is taken and will be publicly announced even in the course of this week. "SPENCER PERCEVAL." If this should take place the administra- | information, that Lord Castlereagh and Mr. Cantion must break up; but then I really do ning have intimated their intention to resign their offices. I have, &c., not know who are to take their places. I have no idea that the king will submit to the conditions which we should think indispensable for our assuming office; and, to tell you the truth, this is one of my greatest comforts, for I never looked at anything with more real horror than the prospect of being called upon to take a share in the administration in the present situation of the country. The reports of my being sent for are more prevalent than ever, and I have no doubt there are very few who do not believe that I am come to town with that expectation. They little know how reluctantly I came, and how anxiously I am looking to the moment when I may be allowed to return to Howick." "HOWICK, September 25, 1809. "Sir-I have this evening had the honour of receiving your letter of the 23rd, informing me that in consequence of the Duke of Portland's intention of retiring from his Majesty's service, his Majesty had authorized you, in conjunction with Lord Liverpool, to communicate with Lord Grenville and myself for the purpose of forming an extended and combined administration, and expressing a hope that, in consequence of this comtime as possible might be lost in forwarding this munication, I would go to London that as little important object. "Had his Majesty been pleased to signify that he had any commands for me personally, I should not have lost a moment in showing my duty and obedience by a prompt attendance on his royal pleasure. These predictions were soon realized. "But when it is proposed to me to communiThe Duke of Portland, owing to a severe cate with his Majesty's present ministers for the paralytic stroke, felt himself called upon purpose of forming a combined administration. to retire, and announced his intention about with them, I feel I should be wanting both in the same time as the dispute between Can-did not frankly and at once declare that such a duty to his Majesty and in fairness to them if I ning and Castlereagh was being decided by an appeal to arms. Negotiations now ensued between Mr. Perceval and Earl Grey with the object of forming a coalition ministry. The following correspondence was entered into : WINDSOR, September 23, 1809. "My Lord-The Duke of Portland having signified to his Majesty his intention of retiring from his Majesty's service, in consequence of the state of his grace's health, his Majesty has authorized Lord Liverpool, in conjunction with myself, to communicate with your lordship and Lord Grenville, for the purpose of forming an extended and combined administration. "I hope, therefore, that your lordship, in consequence of this communication, will come to town in order that as little time as possible may be lost in forwarding this important object, and that you will have the goodness to inform me of your arrival. "I am also to acquaint your lordship that I have received his Majesty's commands to make a similar communication to Lord Grenville of his Majesty's pleasure. union is, with respect to me, under the present circumstances, impossible. "This being the answer which I find myself under the necessity of giving, my appearance in London could be of no advantage, and might, at a moment like the present, be attended with some inconvenience. "I have thought it better, therefore, to request that you will have the goodness to lay my duty at the feet of his Majesty, humbly entreating him not to attribute to any want of attachment to his royal person, or to a diminished zeal for his service, my declining a communication which, upon the terms proposed, could lead to no useful result, but might be of serious detriment to the country if, in consequence of a less decisive answer from me, any further delay should take place in the formation of a settled government.—I have, &c., "GREY." Lord Grenville returned a similar refusal, and the Perceval government then took had taken in this matter, though he was office. Grey never regretted the course he well aware that his conduct would hostilely criticised in certain quarters. "I be "I think it right to add, for your lordship's can hardly expect," he said, "that I shall |