The Yorkshire Gazette reported the proceedings, and commented as follows:—­

“The meeting was unanimous in its determination to petition Parliament against the claims of the Roman Catholics—­one individual only excepted, the Rector of Londesborough.  This gentleman made his speech on the occasion, enlarging on the inexpediency of refusing the Roman Catholics their claims....  The meeting, though by no means unprepared to hear extraordinary things from the Rector of Londesborough, as they had reason to anticipate from the proceedings of a meeting in another Archdeaconry about two years ago, were yet perfectly astonished to hear him assert that the Roman Catholic religion is now changed from what it was formerly, and that the oath of a Papist may, in all cases, be relied upon with the same confidence as that of a Protestant....  It is certainly due to the Rector of Londesborough to state in conclusion that he bore his defeat with his usual good humour, and further that, having learned previous to the meeting the intention of his curate to attend, but that he was hesitating out of delicacy to the declared opinions of his rector, the latter gentleman made it a particular request to his curate that he would persevere in his original intention.”

Sydney Smith’s peroration, though it failed to persuade his brother-clergy, is so good that it deserves to be reproduced.—­

“When this bill passes, it will be a signal to all the religious sects of that unhappy country to lay aside their mutual hatred, and to live in peace, as equal men should live under equal law—­when this bill passes, the Orange flag will fall—­when this bill passes, the Green flag of the rebel will fall—­when this bill passes, no other flag will fly in the land of Erin than that which blends the Lion with the Harp—­that flag which, wherever it does fly, is the sign of freedom and of joy—­the only banner in Europe which floats over a limited King and a free people.”

On this occasion the orator fared even less well than before in the matter of votes.  His “excellent and respectable curate, Mr. Milestone,"[88] voted against him; and he was left in a minority of one.  But he had the satisfaction of being able to write to a friend—­“A poor clergyman whispered to me that he was quite of my way of thinking, but had nine children. I begged he would remain a Protestant.”

By this time the life of the Parliament, which had been elected on the demise of the Crown in 1820, was running out, and both parties were making vigorous preparations for the General Election.  On the 29th January 1826, Sydney Smith wrote to Lady Grey:—­