GRATTAN. 227 municate the glory of what passed: he gave me, in his motion for a free trade, a full participation of the honour. Upon another occasion he said, I remember the words, they are traced with the pencil of gratitude on my heart, “That I was a man whom the most lucrative office in the land had never warped in point of integrity.” The words were marked; I am sure I repeat them fairly; they are words I should be proud to have inscribed upon my tomb. Consider the man from whom they came; consider the magnitude of the subject on which they were spoken; consider the situation of the persons concerned, and it adds t o , and multiplies the honour. My noble friend—I beg pardon, h e did not live t o b e ennobled b y patent, but h e was born ennobled b y nature; his situation a t that moment was this: h e had found himself obliged t o sur render office, and enter into active opposition t o that government, from whom h e had received i t . I remained i n office, though under the circumstance o f having sent i n my resignation; that h e did not know; i n political position, therefore, we were contra-distinguished t o each other: h e did not know, while h e was doing justice t o me, but that h e might b e doing political detriment t o himself; h e did not know but h e might serve the admi nistration h e opposed; but, careless o f every thing except justice and honour, h e gave the sentiments o f his heart, and h e approved. I have mentioned, Sir, that short period, during which the character o f a n incendiary, i f a t a l l applicable t o me, must have come upon me i n the night, like a n enemy, and have taken me unawares: I cannot think the opinion o f the public s o transformed, when I see every corner o f the country expressing their approba tion o f my conduct, one after another; great and respect able societies o f men, compared with whose sentiments the obloquy o f a n individual sinks into nothing. Even this very day, I have received from the united delegates o f the province o f Connaught, a n approbation, with one voice, a s they express i t , o f that conduct, which has been slandered a s the conduct o f a n incendiary. Here i s a
