Ministry’s being equal to any exigency that could be contemplated.  Thus stood matters till the 11th July last, when, at the close of the debate on the state of Ireland, Sir Robert Peel delivered a very remarkable speech.  It consisted of a calm demonstration of the falsehood of all the charges brought by the Repealers against the imperial Parliament; of the impolicy and the impracticability of the various schemes for the relief of Ireland proposed by the Opposition; of the absolute impossibility of Parliament entertaining the question of a Repeal of the Union; and a distinct answer to the question—­“What course do you intend to pursue?” That answer is worthy of being distinctly brought under the notice of the reader.  “I am prepared to administer the law in Ireland upon principles of justice and impartiality.  I am prepared to recognise the principle established by law—­that there shall be equality in civil privileges.  I am prepared to respect the franchise, to give substantially, although not nominally, equality.  In respect to the social condition of Ireland—­as to the relation of landlord and tenant[36]—­I am prepared to give the most deliberate consideration to the important matters involved in those questions.  With respect to the Established Church, I have already stated that we are not prepared to make an alteration in the law by which that Church is maintained.”

[36] In conformity with this declaration, has been issued the recent commission, for “enquiring into the state of the law and practice in respect to the occupation of land in Ireland, and in respect also to the burdens of county cess and other charges, which fall respectively on the landlord and occupying tenant, and for reporting as to the amendments, if any, of the existing laws, which, having due regard to the just rights of property, may be calculated to encourage the cultivation of the soil, to extend a better system of agriculture, and to improve the relation between landlord and tenant, in that part of the United Kingdom.”

We recollect being greatly struck with the ominous calmness perceptible in the tone of this speech.  It seemed characterised by a solemn declaration to place the agitation of Ireland for ever in the wrong—­to deprive them of all pretence for accusing England of having misgoverned Ireland since the Union.  It appeared to us as if that speech had been designed to lay the basis of a contemplated movement against the agitation of the most decisive kind.  The Government acted up to the spirit of the declaration, on that occasion, of Sir Robert Peel, with perfect dignity and resolution, unmoved by the taunts, the threats, the expostulations, or fears of either enemies or friends.  Mr O’Connell’s tone increased in audacity; but we greatly doubt whether in his heart he had not frequent misgivings as to the real nature of the “frightful silence”—­“cette affreuse silence”—­of a Government in whose councils the Duke of Wellington took a decided