He professed his entire concurrence in the tribute of approbation bestowed on the Marquis of Hastings, for his conduct of the late war in India.  There could not remain a doubt in the minds of those acquainted with the facts, but that the wisdom of the plan on which it was commenced, and the vigour of its execution, merited the highest praise.  The noble Duke said, he was pleased that an opportunity, like the present, had occurred to do justice to the services and gallantry of our troops in India, which were often neglected or disallowed.  No troops in the world performed their duty better, or observed a more steady discipline.  They had evinced their good qualities in all their late transactions, whether acting in great masses or small detachments.  In all situations they had nobly performed their duty.

House of Lords, March 9, 1819.

Impossibility of granting Catholic Emancipation.

The whole question turned upon the degree of security which could be given to the Protestant religion as by law established in Ireland.  To consider this, it was necessary to consider how the reformation had been established in Ireland.  It was not necessary for him to recall to their lordships remembrance that the unreformed religion had been established in Ireland at the point of the sword, and by means of confiscations.  All this was repeated at the revolution, and was fresh in the recollection of the people of Ireland.  Keeping in view that the Irish Roman Catholic church, under all oppressions, continued in the same state—­the pope having the same influence over the clergy, the clergy the same power over the people; in this state of things, he would ask, whether it was possible that Roman Catholics could be safely admitted to hold seats in parliament?  The influence of the priesthood over the people was fostered by the remembrance of the events to which he had alluded; and the idea of unmerited and mutual suffering; and no doubt could be entertained, from their present feelings, that if the Roman Catholics were admitted to the enjoyment of political power, their first exertion would be to restore their religion to its original supremacy; and to recover the possessions and property of which they had been stripped by the reformation.  It was, however, said, that securities were offered on the part of the Roman Catholics.

The pope, it seemed, had in the appointment of bishops, relinquished all to the crown, except the mere conferring of a spiritual blessing.  But how had that concession been received by the people of Ireland?  It had excited the utmost discontent, and was regarded as an abandonment of the essential principles of their religion, and an attack on their national independence.  Did that arise from the people of Ireland having a less clear idea of national independence than other people?  No; but they felt if the executive power possessed any control over the appointment of the Roman Catholic bishops, some security would be thereby