Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 63.djvu/297

 and with him Wyse and his friends measured the temples and sketched views.

On his return to Rome Wyse renewed acquaintance with Napoleon's brother Lucien, prince of Canino, whom he had met on his first sojourn in Rome. Prince Lucien and his family shared Wyse's literary and artistic tastes, and were much attracted by him. Eventually, in March 1821, he married Lætitia, the eldest daughter of Lucien Bonaparte by his second wife, Marie Alexandrine. After his marriage Wyse, while often visiting Rome and Canino, resided at Viterbo, where Lucien Bonaparte offered him a villa. Here he occupied himself in writing a learned book on the ‘History and Topography of Jerusalem,’ at the same time composing an epic poem entitled ‘Azrael,’ neither of which was printed.

In 1825 the agitation for catholic emancipation revived in Ireland, and Wyse, returning with his family to Waterford, instantly took a leading part in politics. At the first great provincial meeting in Limerick, consisting of liberal protestants as well as catholics, he was unanimously elected chairman. He also became chairman of the election committee of 1826, formed in his native county in order to overthrow the Beresford influence. The committee's efforts were successful, mainly through Wyse's enthusiasm and his talent for organisation. The most novel feature of the election campaign was his ‘crusade,’ as it was called, among the 40s. freeholders, who hitherto had voted like slaves at the bidding of their landlords. He made a tour all over the county, accompanied by a priest, who, when necessary, translated his speeches into Irish, explaining to the peasants their rights as free citizens, and their duties to vote according to their consciences. The result was the triumphant return of Henry Villiers Stuart, the liberal candidate; and the system pursued by Wyse with the 40s. freeholders was adopted by O'Connell's supporters at the celebrated Clare election in the following year.

Thenceforward in the struggle for emancipation Wyse ranked near O'Connell and Sheil. Lord O'Hagan states that of all the politicians of the day, Wyse was the most accomplished and highly cultured. When the Catholic Association, which Wyse's great-grandfather and the O'Conor Don first founded in 1760, decided on issuing an address to the people of England, he was chosen to compose it. He also originated a system of liberal clubs, but opposed exclusive dealing. He, too, was principally instrumental in getting up the great Rotunda meeting in 1828 to petition for emancipation, and to him was entrusted the drawing up of an address to the king, which the Earl of Glengall moved and Wyse seconded. When it was resolved to send a deputation to England to confer with liberal protestants as to the development of the agitation, Wyse, O'Connell, and Sheil were chosen for the mission, but ultimately he did not accompany them. In the following year (1829), as soon as emancipation was granted, Wyse published ‘A Letter to my Fellow Countrymen,’ recommending the dissolution of the Catholic Association, since its object had been achieved and the country needed quiet. Immediately afterwards he published the ‘Historical Sketch of the Catholic Association’ (London, 1829, 2 vols. 8vo).

Simultaneously with these political occupations Wyse pursued his literary work, and before 1830 he had published ‘Walks in Rome,’ ‘Oriental Sketches,’ and other volumes of spirited description, while he contributed articles on graver subjects to the reviews.

At the general election of 1830, the first after catholic emancipation, Wyse stood for co. Waterford, but O'Connell also presented himself as a candidate, and objected to a second liberal, whereupon Wyse resigned in his favour. But he stood for co. Tipperary, and was enthusiastically returned without a canvass, after a severe contest of eight days. Wyse thus effectually broke up the tory aristocratic influence in Tipperary. Throughout his parliamentary career Wyse was an ‘enlightened liberal,’ voting for the great Reform Bill of 1832, abolition of slavery, repeal of the corn laws, and the extension of popular education. He was keenly interested in both imperial and purely Irish questions; but he especially devoted himself to national education. On the assembling of parliament in December 1830, he presented a detailed plan for Irish education to Earl Grey through Mr. Stanley (later Earl of Derby), then Irish secretary. In the following September Stanley, who had previously ignored Wyse's suggestions, unexpectedly announced his intention, at some subsequent date, of abolishing the Kildare Place Society, and establishing in its stead a national board of education in Dublin. In spite of the government's independent adoption of one of Wyse's leading educational reforms, Wyse on 29 Sept. brought in a bill on the subject, which he had long been preparing, after consultation with the bishops and others in Ireland. The bill was dropped when Stanley issued ‘Instructions’ to form in Dublin a board of national education, and to adopt an educational system which repro-