And your Petitioners, entertaining no doubt of its final accomplishment, from its evident justice and utility, do most solemnly assure this hon. house, that their earnest solicitude for it, at This Peculiar Crisis, arises principally from their anxious desire to extinguish all motives to disunion, and all means of exciting discontent.

But, without adverting to the Peculiar Crisis, in reference to the provisional government of the country, which, he must be aware, was not suited to produce an immediate departure from deep rooted systems; he would only beg to remind his right hon. friend of the ceaseless efforts, and untoward circumstances, which operated to prejudice the cause of the petitioners at the present hour.

The hon. gentleman, after a few more remarks on the Peculiar Crisis at which we had arrived, concluded with giving his assent to the Address.

The hon. gentleman had stated most fairly, that unless he could shew that a Peculiar Crisis existed, and that the pecuniary assistance was calculated to afford the 484 peculiar relief, his proposition fell to the ground.

The 938 appointment of Sir Anthony Hart was considered politic at a Peculiar Crisis, and because it was wished to avoid some difficulties connected with the Catholic Question?

The noble Lord, the member for Devonshire, (Lord Ebrington) who was the standard-bearer of a great party, and stood forward as its representative in moments of Peculiar Crisis, had at the close of the last Parliament expressed himself in a very unqualified manner in reference to the establishment: at that period the celebrated prospectus for settling the tithe question, of which the issue had not corresponded to their benevolent designs, was brought forward.

But it did appear to him, that they were now standing in a Peculiar Crisis, and when a greater union of the qualities re- 1039 quisite to enable any Gentleman to fill the Chair with honour to himself, with credit to the House, and advantage to the public, was wanted, than in any preceding Speaker.

He did not vote for it because it was said that Ministers were likely to resign, although at This Peculiar Crisis, and under existing circumstances, their doing so would have been a great national calamity.

The noble Lord the Member for North Leicestershire (Lord John Manners) said the question must be considered with special reference to the Peculiar Crisis through which a large part of Ireland was passing.