Somerset House, it is almost certain to be the voice of some
zealous retainer of the right honourable Baronet. On the great
question of privilege, the right honourable Baronet has taken a
part which entitles him to the gratitude of all who are
solicitous for the honour and the usefulness of the popular
branch of the legislature. But if any person calls us tyrants,
and calls those whom we have imprisoned martyrs, that person is
certain to be a partisan of the right honourable Baronet. Even
when the right honourable Baronet does happen to agree with his
followers as to a conclusion, he seldom arrives at that
conclusion by the same process of reasoning which satisfies them.
Many great questions which they consider as questions of right
and wrong, as questions of moral and religious principle, as
questions which must, for no earthly object, and on no emergency,
be compromised, are treated by him merely as questions of
expediency, of place, and of time. He has opposed many bills
introduced by the present Government; but he has opposed them on
such grounds that he is at perfect liberty to bring in the same
bills himself next year, with perhaps some slight variation. I
listened to him as I always listen to him, with pleasure, when he
spoke last session on the subject of education. I could not but
be amused by the skill with which he performed the hard task of
translating the gibberish of bigots into language which might not
misbecome the mouth of a man of sense. I felt certain that he
despised the prejudices of which he condescended to make use, and
that his opinion about the Normal Schools and the Douai Version
entirely agreed with my own. I therefore do not think that, in
times like these, the right honourable Baronet can conduct the
administration with honour to himself or with satisfaction to
those who are impatient to see him in office. I will not affect