able trust confided in him; and that even amid the superior claims of his country, in that arduous and difficult station, he had been wholly devoted to them. He had deserved their confidence-had done nothing to forfeit it.

[Here there was a continued outcry from sir R. Inglis's friends, especially in a part low down in the room, chiefly occupied by clergy, who behaved most disgracefully. Many minutes elapsed before silence could be restored, and the interruptions both of Dr. Marsham and the succeeding speaker were frequent: the vice-chancellor three times interfering to procure order.]

Dr. Marsham, in continuation, said the catholic question was one of great and acknowledged difficulty, on which the wisest statesmen had differed, and respecting which we ought to think with great charity of the opinions of others, when conflicting with our own; that Mr. Peel had proved himself a firm friend to the established church, and there was no reason to believe that his attachment to that church was in the least diminished; that by re-committing the trust to Mr. Peel's hands they would best consult the honour of the university, and the safety of that church. (A most violent outcry again took place.) Mr. Peel was entitled to a trial at their hands; they knew not what were the measures about to be adopted; if, indeed, it were possible to suppose the great cause of the established religion of the country would be betrayed, very different considerations might arise; but there was no reasonable apprehension of any such result. Should, indeed, Mr. Peel prove hereafter unworthy of their confidence, he would be among the first to denounce him. A petition, he said, against the catholics had been sent up by the university; but he believed no such petition would have been assented to had his majesty's gracious intentions been known. Here there was tremendous uproar, and cries of "no, no." He repeated his firm conviction. The university had done much, and suffered much, in the cause of loyalty, and it would not be credited that the king would recommend such measures if the exigencies of the state did not imperiously call for them. Mr. Peel had most honourably and candidly thrown himself on his constituents, and he earnestly hoped they would reinstate him in that honourable post which for many years he had filled with the highest credit to himself and honour to them.

Dr. Ingram, head of Trinity, then rose to put in nomination sir Robert Inglis. He made but very few observations, and the cries of "poll, poll," and the confusion were so great, that

very few, if any, heard any thing he said. He stated, that what had fallen from Dr. Marsham, so far from inducing those present to vote for Mr. Peel's re-election, was as wide as the east was from the west from having any such tendency. Did they consent to elect Mr. Peel, and the proposed measure prevailed, they might as well at once adopt the principle of universal suffrage. (Great applause, confusion, and cries of "poll, poll.") The reverend doctor then sat down.

Mr. Girdlestone made an ineffectual attempt to address the meeting. It was said that he intended to have spoken against Mr. Peel's re-election, but the cries for going to poll were so universal and powerful, that he could not proceed.

The vice-chancellor then left his chair, took his seat at the table before him, and the polling commenced.

The election terminated on Saturday the 28th, the numbers being, at the close of the poll—

For sir Robert H. Inglis.

For the right hon. Robert Peel..

755

609

Majority for sir R. H. Inglis...... 146

The vice-chancellor then announced, in the Latin language, that sir Robert Harry Inglis was duly elected one of the burgesses to represent this most learned university in the commons house of parliament. The loudest cheering followed this announcement, and coarse cries were heard of "down with Peel." This uproar at length assumed a form of regular action, and three cheers were successively given for the vice-chancellor and lord Eldon. Three loud cheers then followed for the return of sir Robert Inglis, and they were accompanied by a clapping of hands. A gentleman in a scarlet gown then proposed "three cheers for the king." This call did not seem to be as palatable to the members of the convocation as the preceding appeals to their enthusiasm, for it was loudly hissed. A decent sense of homage for the first magistrate of the state induced a number of gentlemen

to cheer; but their voices were eventually drowned by the majority, who gave vent to a contrary feeling.

It was afterwards asserted by lord Morpeth, in the house, that the talent, and more especially the rising talent, of the university was in favour of Mr. Peel. This was disputed by many honourable members, and animadverted upon by one of the public journals; but the correctness of his lordship's estimate will be sufficiently evident from the list which has been published of those voters who either obtained the highest honours under the old system of examination, or the first classes under the new, and also of those who have been distinguished by the academical prizes. From this list it will appear, that out of 152 first classmen, 101 voted for Mr. Peel, and 51 for sir H. Inglis; and that of prizemen, twenty-three voted for Mr. Peel, and four for sir H. Inglis.

Of Christchurch-men (the college of both candidates,) 39 first-classmen voted for Mr. Peel, and 8 for sir H. Inglis; and of the prizemen of Christchurch, every one, without exception, voted for Mr. Peel.

In the rejection of Mr. Peel as its representative, the university certainly conferred no honour on itself, nor did their efforts impede, for a single moment, the completion of that great measure, which the rival candidate had pledged himself to oppose, and to the successful progress of which, through its several stages, our history will now return.

On the morning of Thursday, 5th March, the day appointed for the introduction of the Roman catholic relief bill, all the avenues to the house of commons were occupied as early as ten o'clock, although it was understood that the marquis of Chandos would persevere in his motion for calling over the house, which would have the effect of delaying the opening of the gallery. A few minutes after six, the door of the strangers' gallery was opened, and the rush to obtain seats was tremendous.

Petitions in favour of concession were presented from Warminster, and one from York, most numerously and re

spectably signed. Another member rose with a third petition, but the impatience of the house was so great, and the calls for Mr. Peel so loud and incessant, that the honourable member sat down.

Mr. Secretary Peel then moved that those passages of his majesty's speech should be read, in which parliament were recommended to consider the state of Ireland.

The clerk having read the passages in question,

Mr. Secretary Peel again rose. [Although every bench and every nook both in the body of the house and in the side galleries were crowded with members, the most profound silence instantly prevailed. The right honourable gentleman then addressed the house in a most earnest and impressive tone and manner.

He rose as a minister of the king, and by the just authority which belonged to that situation, to vindicate the advice which had been given to his majesty by a united cabinet; he rose in the spirit of peace, to propose the adjustment of the catholic question; a question which had occupied the attention of parliament, and which had distracted the councils of the king, for now nearly thirty years. He rose to discuss the question in the spirit recommended in one of those beautiful prayers by which, on the present, as on every other occasion, the proceedings of this house are preceded, and in which we were enjoined to "lay aside all private interests, prejudices, and partial affections." God grant that, in the simple and appropriate language of that prayer, "the result of our councils on this day may lead to the maintenance of the true religion and of justice; to the safety, honour, and happiness of the kingdom; to the public welfare, peace, and tranquillity of the realm; and to the uniting and knitting together all classes of persons, and all estates in true christian charity." He approached this subject, he confessed, almost overpowered by the magnitude of the interests concerned, and by the difficulties which he knew surrounded it. He was not unaware of the extent to which those difficulties were increased by the situation of the person upon whom had devolved the task to propose the measure to parliament. He, however, threw aside those personal difficulties, supported by the consciousness that he had done his duty; and that he had fulfilled the obligation of his solemn oath as a responsible minister of the crown,