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the Roman Catholic population of that unfortunate country had been kept
down during many generations seemed to him unjust and cruel； and it was
scarcely possible for a man of his abilities not to perceive that； in a contest
against the Jacobins； the Roman Catholics were his natural allies。 Had he
been able to do all that he wished； it is probable that a wise and liberal
policy would have averted the rebellion of 1798。 But the difficulties which
he encountered were great； perhaps insurmountable； and the Roman
Catholics were； rather by his misfortune than by his fault； thrown into the
hands of the Jacobins。 There was a third great rising of the Irishry against
the Englishry； a rising not less formidable than the risings of 1641 and
1689。 The Englishry remained victorious； and it was necessary for Pitt； as
it had been necessary for Oliver Cromwell and William of Orange before
him； to consider how the victory should be used。 It is only just to his
memory to say that he formed a scheme of policy； so grand and so simple；
so righteous and so humane； that it would alone entitle him to a high place
among statesmen。 He determined to make Ireland one kingdom with
England； and； at the same time； to relieve the Roman Catholic laity from
civil disabilities； and to grant a public maintenance to the Roman Catholic
clergy。 Had he been able to carry these noble designs into effect； the Union
would have been an Union indeed。 It would have been inseparably
associated in the minds of the great majority of Irishmen with civil and
religious freedom； and the old Parliament in College Green would have
been regretted only by a small knot of discarded jobbers and oppressors；
and would have been remembered by the body of the nation with the
loathing and contempt due to the most tyrannical and the most corrupt
assembly that had ever sate in Europe。 But Pitt could execute only one half
of what he had projected。 He succeeded in obtaining the consent of the
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
Parliaments of both kingdoms to the Union； but that reconciliation of races
and sects； without which the Union could exist only in name； was not
accomplished。 He was well aware that he was likely to find difficulties in
the closet。 But he flattered himself； that by cautious and dexterous
management； those difficulties might be overcome。 Unhappily； there were
traitors and sycophants in high place who did not suffer him to take his
own time； and his own way； but prematurely disclosed his scheme to the
King； and disclosed it in the manner most likely to irritate and alarm a
weak and diseased mind。 His Majesty absurdly imagined that his
Coronation oath bound him to refuse his assent to any bill for relieving
Roman Catholics from civil disabilities。 To argue with him was impossible。
Dundas tried to explain the matter； but was told to keep his Scotch
metaphysics to himself。 Pitt； and Pitt's ablest colleagues； resigned their
offices。 It was necessary that the King should make a new arrangement。
But by this time his anger and distress had brought back the malady which
had； many years before； incapacitated him for the discharge of his
functions。 He actually assembled his family； read the Coronation oath to
them； and told them that； if he broke it； the Crown would immediately
pass to the House of Savoy。 It was not until after an interregnum of several
weeks that he regained the full use of his small faculties； and that a
ministry after his own heart was at length formed。
The materials out of which he had to construct a government were
neither solid nor splendid。 To that party； weak in numbers； but strong in
every kind of talent； which was hostile to the domestic and foreign policy
of his late advisers； he could not have recourse。 For that party； while it
differed from his late advisers on every point on which they had been
honoured with his approbation； cordially agreed with them as to the single
matter which had brought on them his displeasure。 All that was left to him
was to call up the rear ranks of the old ministry to form the front rank of a
new ministry。 In an age pre…eminently fruitful of parliamentary talents； a
cabinet was formed containing hardly a single man who； in parliamentary
talents； could be considered as even of the second rate。 The most
important offices in the state were bestowed on decorous and laborious
mediocrity。 Henry Addington was at the head of the Treasury。 He had been
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY。
an early； indeed a hereditary； friend of Pitt； and had by Pitt's influence
been placed； while still a young man； in the chair of the House of
Commons。 He was universally admitted to have been the best speaker that
had sate in that chair since the retirement of Onslow。 But nature had not
bestowed on him very vigorous faculties； and the highly respectable
situation which he had long occupied with honour had rather unfitted than
fitted him for the discharge of his new duties。 His business had been to
bear himself evenly between contending factions。 He had taken no part in
the war of words； and he had always been addressed with marked
deference by the great orators who thundered against each other from his
right and from his left。 It was not strange that； when； for the first time； he
had to encounter keen and vigorous antagonists； who dealt hard blows
without the smallest ceremony； he should have been awkward and unready；
or that the air of dignity and authority which he had acquired in his former
post； and of which he had not divested himself； should have made his
helplessness laughable and pitiable。 Nevertheless； during many months；
his power seemed to stand firm。 He was a favourite with the King； whom
he resembled in narrowness of mind； and to whom he was more
obsequious than Pitt had ever been。 The nation was put into high good
humour by a peace