A.D. 1823

The old Catholic Committee had gradually died out; and O'Connell and Sheil founded the "Catholic Association," which was the principal agency that ultimately enabled them to achieve Emancipation. The expenses were defrayed chiefly by a subscription from the people, of one penny a week, which was called "Catholic rent”: and the association soon spread through all Ireland. This movement, of which O'Connell and Sheil were the mainsprings all through, was the means of spreading broadcast a free press and of creating healthful public opinion. The government viewed the new Association with jealousy and alarm; and an act of parliament was passed in 1825 to put it down; but O'Connell, who took great care never to have the law broken, contrived an ingenious plan by which the act was evaded; and the association went on as before. In Waterford and several other places, by means of the perfect organisation of this association, Protestant members favourable to emancipation were returned, the forty-shilling freeholders voting for them; for as these tenants had leases for life they were in a great measure independent of the landlords, and successfully resisted their influence.

An oath similar to that framed in 1692 (p. 381) to exclude Irish Catholics from parliament, was at this period, and had been for a long time previously, in force in the parliament in England; so that although there was nothing to prevent a Catholic being elected, he could not enter the house as member, since no Catholic could take this oath. It had been recommended by the veteran John Keogh (p. 447) that some Catholic should be elected member, and should present himself at Westminster and be excluded by the oath; so that the absurdity and hardship of letting a constituency remain

altogether without a member because the person elected refused to take an oath that his own religion was false, should be brought home to the people of the empire. Keogh believed that this would lead to emancipation. A vacancy now (1828) occurred in Clare, as the sitting member Mr. Vesey Fitzgerald, having accepted the office of president of the Board of Trade, had to seek re-election. O'Connell determined to oppose him, so as to bring the matter to a test. His address to the people of Clare aroused extraordinary enthusiasm, and notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the landlords, he was returned by an immense majority.

This election aroused sympathy everywhere in England for the Catholics, so that the government were alarmed; and they became still more so when they found that the branches of the association were preparing to return Catholic members all through Ireland. Wellington and Peel, forced by public opinion, gave way, being now convinced that emancipation could no longer be withheld with safety. Peel introduced into the commons a bill for the emancipation of the Catholics. After several days' stormy debate the third reading was carried on the 30th of March. The debate in the lords was even more violent than in the commons. But Wellington ended the matter by declaring that they should choose either of the two alternatives, emancipation or civil war. The A.D. 1829 bill passed the third reading, after a long debate and much bitter opposition, and received the royal assent on the 13th of April.

After the bill had become law O'Connell presented himself at the bar of the house for the first time since his election to claim his seat; knowing well what would happen. According to the terms of the Emancipation

Act it was only those elected after the 13th of April that came under the new oath a clause designedly inserted by Peel in order to put O'Connell to the trouble and expense of another election. The old oath was put into his hand; and looking at it for a few seconds he said:"I see here one assertion as to a matter of fact which I know to be untrue: I see a second as to a matter of opinion which I believe to be untrue. I therefore refuse to take this oath": after which he withdrew. Another writ was issued for Clare, and he was returned unopposed.

By this Emancipation Act a new oath was framed which Catholics might take. The act therefore admitted Catholics to the right of being members of parliament in either house. It admitted them also to all civil and military offices, with three exceptions :those of regent, lord lieutenant, and lord chancellor.*

The act contained one fatal provision which O'Connell had to agree to; it raised the franchise in Ireland to £10, though in England the qualification remained at the limit of forty shillings: this disfranchised all the forty-shilling freehold voters (p. 448), who constituted the main strength of the Catholic party.

Several influences had been for years at work to soften the feelings of England towards Irish Roman Catholics, so as to prepare the way for Emancipation; among the chief of which were the writings of Thomas Moore. Though Grattan's impassioned pleading had brought the claims of his country vividly before the English house of commons, Moore's Irish Melodies

*The restriction regarding the last of these three offices was removed some years ago by act of parliament, when Lord O'Hagan, a Roman Catholic, became lord chancellor of Ireland.

beautiful words to beautiful music-were, it may be said, the first clear gentle voice heard across the sea directly from the Irish Catholics themselves. These songs were read and sung with delight all over England, and they sank deeply into the hearts of the

Thomas Moore. From portrait in National Gallery, Dublin.

English people. But there still remained, especially among the ruling classes, much hostility, and a widespread determination to resist further concession. To O'Connell is due the credit of breaking down the

opposition of Parliament, and of carrying Emancipation; but he was faithfully and ably seconded by Richard Lalor Sheil.

CHAPTER LXIX.

FROM EMANCIPATION TO THE DEATH OF O'CONNELL.

A.D. 1829-1847.

George IV. (to 1830).
William IV. (1830-1837).
Victoria (1837).

FTER Emancipation the way was opened to other reforms beneficial to the Catholics. For many years previous to this, the government had been giving money to support schools for elementary education. all through Ireland. But they were suitable for Protestants only: Catholics could not conscientiously attend them, as they would have to be present at Protestant religious instruction, while no provision was made to give them instruction in their own religion. To remedy this state of things the National system of education was established, which afforded means of education to all, Catholics and Protestants alike. For this purpose it had -as it has still-two main rules :-first, pupils of all religious denominations, who attended a school, were to be taught together in the ordinary school course, but to receive religious instruction separately: second, there was to be no interference with the religious principles of any child. From that time to the present both the number of schools and the money given by government to support them have gone on increasing.

A.D. 1831

The Catholic peasantry were still called on to pay