Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 1.djvu/442

 CAULFIELD. 431 member of the superior committee, and soon attained by his imposing talents a marked ascendency. The Bishop of Derry strenuously supported the resolution for extend- ing the elective franchise to the catholics; but Mr. Flood as strenuously, but more successfally, opposed it. Lord Charlemont and his friends, thinking the measure at that time premature, opposed it also, and it was finally rejected. Various other plans for the reform itself met a similar fate; and, finally, Mr. Flood produced one of his own, which, upon full discussion, was not deemed better than others which had been rejected. We shall not bere attempt to detail the proceedings of the convention more at length. The assembly, how ever, at length tired out by the multiplicity of vision- ary projects, all turned towards Lord Charlemont for his opinion. Averse alike to ostentation and public speaking, he had hitherto remained silent; but now declared his readiness to sacrifice the only borough he possessed to the wishes of that country, in trust for which he had always held it. In a conversation, which his lordship held apart with the Bishop of Derry, that noble and reverend prelate, in allusion to the catholic question, took the liberty of telling his lordship " that his conduct was by no means generally approved, and that he was considered as rather lukewarm in the cause of reform" An unpleasant con- versation followed, which closed with the following decla- ration of his lordship- “The difference I make between the former and pre- sent objects of our exertions is this,-Whilst Ireland was in effect subject to a foreign legislature, there were no lengths to which I would not have gone to rescue her from a state which I considered as positive slavery. To that point I had pledged my life and fortune ;, and towards the attainment of it I would willingly and cheerfully bave hazarded not only them, but what was still more dear to me, and far more important, thbe peace of my country. Our present object I esteem great, and of high importance; and to attain it, will do every thing not inconsistent with