554

LIFE OF (OBDEN, [oma®

1851. Russia does, by which he has a voice in the appointment L
Zr. 47. the Roman Catholic bishops in his Polish provinces (his Ireland),
 nor will we allow the Irish to manage their OWE
spiritual afisirs without our aid or intervention, ss is done 12
the United States. Was ever anything so absurdly uojust ?
Well may our statesmen, such as Graham, Aberdeen, and
80 on, decline to take offico to carry out such a gystem. 1
will venture to say that there is not a leading statesman 1
any country of Europe or America, who would for a momen?
take upon himself the responsibility of treating sevel
willions of Catholics as we are doing. .
“As respects the prospects of Free Trade they are aie
enough if we can have an appeal to the country upoP
that question ‘ pure and simple.’ But if the Protectionist®
can throw in the religious cry, heaven onl y knows what may
be the consequence. All I can say is that if the people 81°
determined to indulge their bigotry even at the cost of a
tax on their bread, it is their affair and not mine. I shall
as resolutely oppose Protostant monopoly as Protectionish
monopoly.
“I am glad to hear such good accounts of you, I would
not advise you to come to Parliament, although I should
like to have you on the same bench with me. For my part
1 am so disgusted with these theological squabbles that 1
should be delighted if I could bolt out of the political ring:
But there is no such luck.”
“ Dunford, Apeil 22. (To Mrs. Cobden.) —1 left Chchester
 with Elcome yesterday, in the midst of rain, and if
has been raining ever since. I can hardly see the trees OF
the side of the hil) leading up to Walker’s, and the Down#
are quite lost in the thick mist. Iam of course a prisoners
which is very disagreeable. Yesterday, whilst at Chichester;
I was very extravagant in the purchase of a great number of
roses in pots, which I expect to arrive to-dav, and I shall