religion of the land.  Such an Association, embracing most of the Roman Catholic population, was regarded with great alarm by the government; and they determined to put it down as seditious and dangerous, against the expostulation of such men as Brougham, Mackintosh, and Sir Henry Parnell.  Then arose the great figure of O’Connell in the history of Ireland (whose eloquence, tact, and ability have no parallel in that country of orators), defending the cause of his countrymen with masterly power, leading them like a second Moses according to his will,—­in fact, uniting them in a movement which it was hopeless to oppose except with an army bent on the depopulation of the country; so that George IV. is reported to have said, with considerable bitterness, “Canning is king of England, O’Connell is king of Ireland, and I am Dean of Windsor.”

Such, however, was the hostility of Parliament to the Irish Catholics that a bill was carried by a great majority in both Houses to suppress the Association, supported powerfully by the Duke of York as well as by the ministers of the crown, even by Canning himself and Sir Robert Peel.

Then followed renewed disturbances, riots, and murders; for the condition of the Roman Catholics in Ireland was desperate as well as gloomy.  The Association was dissolved, for O’Connell would do nothing unlawful; but a new one took its place, which preached peace and unity, but which meant the repeal of the Union,—­the grand object that from first to last O’Connell had at heart.  Of course, this scheme was utterly impracticable without a revolution that would shake England to its centre; but it was followed by an immense emigration to America,—­so great that the population of Ireland declined from eight and a half to four and a half millions.  The Irish Catholics, however, were comparatively quiet during the administration of Mr. Canning, whose liberal tendencies had given them hope; but on his death they became more restive.  The coalition ministry under Lord Goderich was much embarrassed how to act, or was too feeble to act with vigor,—­not for want of individual abilities, but by reason of dissensions among the ministers.  It lasted only a short time, and was succeeded by that of the Duke of Wellington, with Sir Robert Peel for his lieutenant; both of whom had shown an intense prejudice and dislike of the Irish Catholics, and had voted uniformly for their repression.  On the return of the Tories to power, the Irish disturbances were renewed and increased.  Hitherto the landlords had directed the votes of their tenantry,—­the forty-shilling freeholders; but now the elections were determined by the direction of the Catholic Association, which was controlled by the priests, and by O’Connell and his associates.  In addition, O’Connell himself was elected to represent in the English Parliament the County of Clare, against the whole weight of the government,—­which was a bitter pill for the Tories to swallow, especially as the great agitator declared his intention to take his seat without submitting to the customary oath.  It was in reality a defiance of the government, backed by the whole Irish nation.  The Catholics became so threatening, they came together so often and in such enormous masses, that the nation was thoroughly alarmed.  The king and a majority of his ministers urged the most violent coercive measures, even to the suspension of habeas corpus.