RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET, Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty.

MDCCCLVII.

1807

LONDON: PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Character of Sir Robert Peel.-His Entry into Public Life.-His

Father the first Baronet.-His presentiment that he should be the

founder of a Family.-His Son's career at Harrow and Oxford.—

Sir Robert Peel and Lord Byron

CHAPTER II.

"The Last Will of a Patriot.'-State of the House of Commons when

Mr. Peel entered.-Reign of the Tory Party.-Catholic Emancipa-

tion. Mr. Peel becomes Member for Oxford.-Opposite Views of

Mr. Peel and his Father on the question of the resumption of Cash

Payments.-Mr. Peel opposes Catholic Emancipation.-Sir James

Mackintosh

Page

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CHAPTER III.

Mr. Peel and Mr. Canning.-Character of Canning.-George the

Fourth's antipathy to Canning.-Treats him with marked dis-

favour.-The King and the Duke of Wellington.-Canning's great

popularity.-Unpleasant position of Mr. Peel.-The Elections of

1826.-Death of Lord Liverpool.-Canning forms a Cabinet.-His

Death at the summit of power

CHAPTER IV.

The Widow of Canning.-Discontent among Ministers.-O'Connell's

eloquence.-Lord Eldon's conviction of defeat on the question of

Catholic Emancipation.-Hesitation of Wellington and Peel.-Dis-

missal of the party of Canning.-Bill for the Relief of Dissenters.-

Ministers resolve to propose Catholic Emancipation to Parliament.

-Opposition of George IV.-Threatens to leave England.-Peel

proposes Emancipation.-Bitter attacks upon Mr. Peel.-Establish-

ment of a Sliding Scale.-The French Revolution of 1830.-

England recognises the New French Government.-Reform.-De-

claration of the Duke of Wellington against Reform.-Royal Visit

to the City prevented.-Declaration of Mr. Peel

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