conclusion.”  The words were prophetic; the prophecy was realized.  On the 5th of March, 1829, Mr. Peel moved a committee of the whole House, “to go into the consideration of the civil disabilities of his Majesty’s Roman Catholic subjects.”  The motion was carried by a majority of 188.  On the 15th of May, 1829, O’Connell appeared in the House to take his seat.  He was introduced by Lords Ebrington and Dungannon.  The House was thronged.  The very peeresses came to gaze upon the arch-agitator, expecting to see a demagogue, and to hear an Irish brogue.  There were whispers of surprise when they saw a gentleman, and a man who could speak, with the versatility of true talent, to suit his audience.  The card containing the oath was handed to O’Connell; he read a portion of it over in an audible voice—­the portion which required him to say that “the sacrifice of the Mass, and the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and other saints, as now practised in the Church of Rome, are impious and idolatrous;” and to deny the dispensing power of the Pope, which never existed, except in the imagination of its framers.  With a courteous bow he said, in a voice to be heard throughout the House:  “I decline, Mr. Clerk, to take this oath:  part of it I know to be false; another part I believe not to be true.”

Again he sought the votes of the electors of Clare, and again he was returned by them.  On the 13th of April, 1829, the royal signature was affixed to the Act of Emancipation, and Irishmen were no longer refused the rights of citizens because they respected the rights of conscience.

In the year 1812, the late Sir Robert Peel came to Ireland as Chief Secretary, unfortunately destitute of the enlargement of mind and the native genius of his predecessor, Sir Arthur Wellesley.  His abilities, however great, were not such as to enable him to understand a nationality distinct from his own; and hence he could not deal with the Irish, either to his credit, or for their advantage.  From the year 1815 to 1817 the conduct of the English Parliament towards Ireland was regulated with the nicest attention to the movements of the General who ruled the Continent.  In 1817 an Act was passed, which, with admirable policy, excused Catholic officers, naval and military, from forswearing transubstantiation.  In 1821 George IV. visited Ireland.  It was the first time that an English King had come to Ireland as the acknowledged sovereign of the people.  Their hopes were high; and the deference for royalty, so eminently characteristic of the Celt, had at last found an opportunity of expressing itself.  All that loyalty could do was done; all that the warmest heart could say was said.  The King appeared impressed by demonstrations so entirely new to him; he wore a large bunch of shamrocks constantly during his brief stay; but before the shamrocks were faded, Irish wants and Irish loyalty were alike forgotten.