Baronet may select, but the tyranny of race over race, and of
creed over creed. Give them what they want; and you convulse the
empire. Refuse them; and you dissolve the Tory party. I believe
that the right honourable Baronet himself is by no means without
apprehensions that, if he were now called to the head of affairs,
he would, very speedily, have the dilemma of 1829 again before
him. He certainly was not without such apprehensions when, a few
months ago, he was commanded by Her Majesty to submit to her the
plan of an administration. The aspect of public affairs was not
at that time cheering. The Chartists were stirring in England.
There were troubles in Canada. There were great discontents in
the West Indies. An expedition, of which the event was still
doubtful, had been sent into the heart of Asia. Yet, among many
causes of anxiety, the discerning eye of the right honourable
Baronet easily discerned the quarter where the great and
immediate danger lay. He told the House that his difficulty
would be Ireland. Now, Sir, that which would be the difficulty
of his administration is the strength of the present
administration. Her Majesty's Ministers enjoy the confidence of
Ireland; and I believe that what ought to be done for that
country will excite less discontent here if done by them than if
done by him. He, I am afraid, great as his abilities are, and
good as I willingly admit his intentions to be, would find it
easy to lose the confidence of his partisans, but hard indeed to
win the confidence of the Irish people.

It is indeed principally on account of Ireland that I feel
solicitous about the issue of the present debate. I well know
how little chance he who speaks on that theme has of obtaining a
fair hearing. Would to God that I were addressing an audience