168  RISE    AND    FALL

On  this  occasion,  however,  Mr.  Ponsonby's  steady,
judicious,  and  plausible  address,  exactly  corresponded
with  the  exigencies  of  the  Viceroy,  and  gave  a  tinge  of
generous  concession  to  his  Grace's  accedence,  which  the
volatile  gratitude  of  the  Irish  nation,  for  a  moment  mis-
took for  genuine  sincerity.  Mr.  Ponsonby  sought  to  be
considered  at  the  same  moment  as  faithful  to  his  country
and  faithful  to  its  government — a  union  which  the  bad
policy  of  England  had  taught  the  Irish  people  to  consider
as  incompatible.  His  manner  and  his  speech,  however,
had  the  effect  intended.  His  fair  and  discreet  reputation
gave  great  weight  to  so  gratifying  a  declaration ;  and  no
impression  could  be  more  favourable  to  tha  Duke  of
Portland  than  that  which  he  derived  from  the  short  con-
ciliating observations  of  Mr.  Ponsonby.  He  stated,
"  that  he  most  willingly  consented  to  the  proposed
amendment,  and  would  answer  that  the  noble  Lord  who
presided  in  the  government  of  Ireland,  wished  to  do
every  thing  in  his  power  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  nation,
and  he  knew  that  the  noble  Duke  would  not  lose  one
moment  in  forwarding  this  remonstrance  of  parliament
to  the  Throne,  and  he  would  use  his  utmost  influence  in
obtaining  the  rights  of  Ireland,  an  object  on  which  he

had    FIXED    HIS    HEART."*

This  declaration  was  received  with  the  loudest  cheers
by  a  great  majority  of  the  House ;  but  there  existed  men
whose  wise  scepticism  still  retained  their  doubts  of  his
Excellency's  unsophisticated  sincerity.  They  reflected
justly,  that  the  irresistihle  position  of  Ireland  alone  had
at  length  induced  the  British  government  to  this  mag-
nanimous declaration — past  events  had  indisputably  de-
cided, that  whether  cabinets  of  Whigs  or  cabinets  of
Tories  had  ruled  the  British  councils,  the  system  of  its
government  had  remained  invariably  adverse  to  the
rights  of  Ireland  ;  high  British  supremacy  had  been  the
principle  and  the  practice  of  all  its  administrations  and  of

*  Mr.  Ponsonby  soon  after  this  period  acquired  the  highest  legal  esti-
mation, and  in  public  affairs  connected  himself  with  Mr.  Grattan,  which
connection  has  continued  without  interruption.
