[62] In later life he said:—“If you
shoot, the squire and the poacher both
consider you as their natural
enemies, and I thought it more clerical
to be at peace with both.”
[63] Sir Henry Halford, Bart., M.D. (1766-1844).
[64] His eldest son.
[65] Compare—“The Sixth Commandment
in suspended, by one medical diploma,
from the North of England
to the South.”—Essay on “Persecuting
Bishops.”
[66] Addressed to Mrs. Henry Howard.
[67] John Allen (1771-1843) was Warden of Dulwich College.
[68] Macaulay called it “the very neatest, most
commodious, and most
appropriate rectory that I
ever saw.”
[69] In 1818 he writes to Lady Mary Bennet:—“I
am glad you liked what I
said of Mrs. Fry. She
is very unpopular with the clergy: examples of
living, active virtue disturb
our repose, and give birth to
distressing comparisons; we
long to burn her alive.”
[70] Macaulay describes Foston Church as “a
miserable little hovel with a
wooden belfry.”
[71] As testified by Mr. Stuart Reid.
[72] Carlyle’s description of Dr. Arnold’s house at Rugby.
[73] Henry Luttrell (1765-1835), wit and epicure.
[74] Frederick, 5th Earl of Carlisle (1748-1825) married
Lady Margaret
Caroline Leveson-Gower.
[75] In old age Sydney Smith wrote—“Castle
Howard befriended me when I
wanted friends: I shall
never forget it till I forget all.”
[76] See Appendix B.
[77] (1757-1839).
[78] The Hon. and Rev. George Spencer (1799-1864).
[79] See p. 83.
[80] The Residence Act, 1817.
[81] Acts xxiii. 3.
[82] St. Luke x. 25.
CHAPTER V
“CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION”—BRISTOL—COMBE FLOREY—REFORM—PROMOTION
The first quarter of the nineteenth century was now nearing its close, and the most exciting topic in domestic politics was the emancipation of the Roman Catholics. The movement in favour of emancipation, though checked by the death of Pitt, had never completely collapsed, and now it was quickened by the exertions of the “Catholic Association” in Ireland, and stimulated by the eloquence of O’Connell and Sheil. Session after Session, emancipating Bills were brought into Parliament, and were supported by Castlereagh and Canning in opposition to their colleagues. The clergy of the Church of England—fashioned, almost to a man, on the model of Abraham Plymley—were dreadfully alarmed. Bishops charged against the proposed concession. Clerical meetings all over the country petitioned Parliament to defend them against insidious attacks on our national Protestantism. Before long, the storm rolled up to Yorkshire, and a meeting of the Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Cleveland was assembled at Thirsk on the 24th of March 1823.