Morpeth's, where there was a large assembly, looking very gay from the number of military men.

"Lord Morpeth received Maria in the most flattering manner, taking her on his arm, and introducing her to many of the company. Indeed, throughout the evening the introductions were so numerous, that I think she must have been weary of hearing her new name.

"Her husband was very much pleased with her dress, which was white satin trimmed with blond lace; her hair dressed in the Grecian style, with some very pretty ornaments of beads, intermixed with green and silver leaves, a beautiful gold chain, brooch, earrings, and bracelet gold-studded with emeralds.

"The whole of my amusement was in watching the admiring looks of her happy husband, and the scrutiny with which he seemed to look into the faces of those to whom she was introduced, to see if they approved her. During Mr Sharp's life we went a great deal more into society than I liked, but I felt I was more in my duty in going with Maria than suffering her to go alone. Now that she is married, the case is altered, and I no longer feel it necessary. I shall therefore indulge my own inclinations, and keep much at home.

"On Sunday (the only Sabbath we have spent here) we set out in the car to go to the Hibernian Chapel, but the horse being a little unruly we took fright, and Mr Drummond went alone. I am at present quite at a loss to know where to attend, but am hoping to be furnished with some information on the subject from a friend in England. I suppose it will be expedient for Maria to appear at church at the morning service, but unless their pulpits are better filled here than they are in the generality of churches in England, she will have a very different fare to what she has been accustomed. I therefore anxiously hope that she will attend afternoon or evening service (whichever it may

be) with me, should I meet with a preacher whose religious opinions coincide with my own.

"Mr Drummond went this morning directly after breakfast to the Lord Lieutenant, I have therefore not had an opportunity of reading him that part of your letter which you wished me to communicate. I shall be silent as to the slowness of the amendment of his dear sister's health, about which I know he is most anxious; indeed, I may truly say that we all are. At present the weather here is unusually mild. If that be the weather that suits Miss Drummond, I hope it is so in Scotland; for my own feelings, I rather prefer a more bracing air.

"I am just told it is my duty to take a walk while the sun is shining so beautifully, and if I do not seal my letter before I go I shall lose this day's post. I therefore must conclude this very short epistle, and only add the united kind regards of our two to your trio.-Believe me, my dear Madam, your sincere friend,

"A. M. SHARP.

"Your son and daughter are quite well. I can say the

same of myself."

CHAPTER VIII.

1836.

IMMEDIATELY on the meeting of Parliament in 1836, the Irish members renewed their attacks on the Orange Society. They were supported by Hume, who revealed the whole story of the "Fairman plot," and wound up a vigorous speech with a strong resolution demanding an address to the Crown for the removal of every judge, privy councillor, lord lieutenant, magistrate, militia officer, police inspector, or constable who belonged to the organization. Lord John Russell interposed with a moderate speech, and moved as an amendment to Hume's resolution, that His Majesty should be prayed to take such steps as he deemed "advisable for the effectual discouragement of Orange lodges, and generally of all political societies." The Orange members, wincing under Hume's onslaught, and possibly fearful of further revelations, offered but a faint-hearted resistance to Russell's amendment. They proposed the omission of the words "Orange lodges." Russell insisted on retaining the words. Verner said he would take the opinion of the House on the point. Shaw urged his friends not to press the question to a division. Shaw's advice was taken, and Russell's amendment agreed to unanimously.1

On February 25, the King's answer to the address was received

1 Hansard, 3rd ser., vol. xxxi, pp. 332, 345, and 779, 859.

It was stated during the debate, that of 27,000 men in the Irish yeomanry corps, 25,000 were Orangemen; that of 7000 policemen, 5000 were Orangemen. Ibid., p. 333.

"WILLIAM REX-I willingly assent to the prayer of the address of my faithful Commons that I would be pleased to take such measures as may seem to me advisable for the effectual discouragement of Orange lodges, and generally of all political societies, excluding persons of a different religious faith, using secret signs and symbols, and, acting by means of associated branches. It is my firm intention to discourage all such societies in my dominions, and I rely with confidence on the fidelity of my loyal subjects to support me in this determination."

The Orangemen bowed to this mandate. Cumberland flung up the Grand Mastership. The Orange Society of Great Britain and the Colonies was dissolved. But the Orange Society of Ireland remained to threaten the public peace and thwart the policy of conciliation.1

1 The Orange Society was dissolved as a system of affiliated lodges under the Grand Lodge; but it remained in Ireland as a system of unaffiliated lodges.-McLennan.

The Orange Society of Great Britain was, so far as I can make out, reformed in 1845.

By the new "Laws and Ordinances," the Orangeman's declaration ran as follows:

66

". . . And I further declare that I will, to the utmost of my power, support Her Majesty Queen Victoria the First, the laws of the country, and the succession to the throne in Her Majesty's illustrious house being Protestant.""Laws and Ordinances of the Grand Orange Society of Great Britain," p. 19. (Published at Bolton in 1848.) By law 1, Catholics were excluded from the Society.

By the "Laws and Ordinances of the Orange Institution of Ireland," published at Belfast in 1872, we learn :

"THE BASIS OF THE INSTITUTION.

"The Institution is composed of Protestants united and resolved to the utmost of their power to support and defend the rightful sovereign, the Protestant religion, the laws of the realm, the Legislative Union, and the succession to the throne in the House of Brunswick, BEING PROTESTANT; and united further for the defence of their own Persons and Properties, and the Maintenance of the Public Peace. It is exclusively an Association of those who are attached to the religion of the Reformation, and will not admit into its Brotherhood persons whom an intolerant spirit leads to persecute, injure, or upbraid any man on account of his religious opinons. They associate also

Morpeth lost no time in bringing forward the Constabulary Bill again. He introduced the measure on February 18. Meeting the main objection of the Orange party-the nomination of constables by the Executive Government instead of by the local authorities-he declared, in effect, that the Irish magistracy could not be trusted to make good appointments. "Within the last three months, not fewer than ninety-six constables and sub-constables had been dismissed from the force for belonging to secret societies."1

in honour of King William III., Prince of Orange, whose name they bear as supporters of his glorious memory.

"PARTICULAR QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDAtes.

"It is also to be ascertained

"That the Candidate will be faithful, and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and to her Protestant successors; that he will, to the utmost of his power, support and maintain the Laws and Constitution of the United Kingdom, and the succession to the Throne in Her Majesty's illustrious House, BEING PROTESTANT. That he is not and never was a Roman Catholic or Papist, or married to one (unless in cases under the 3rd Law); that he is not, and never was, and will not become, a member of any society, or body of men who are enemies to the lawful sovereign, or the glorious constitution of the realm, as established in 1688, and that he never took, and never will take, any oath of secrecy, or any other oath of obedience, to any treason. able society.

"[Law] 3

"No person, who at any time has been a Roman Catholic, or married to one, shall be admitted into the Institution, except by a unanimous vote of the Grand Lodge, and of the District and County Grand Lodges, founded on testimonials of good character, and a Certificate of his having been duly elected (pursuant to 2nd Law), in the lodge in which he is proposed.

"[Law] 2—

"The admission of Members shall be by Ballot or otherwise, at the option of each lodge; and when by ballot, one black bean in seven to exclude, and no Candidate shall be admitted or balloted for without having been regularly proposed and seconded, at least one month previous to such admission of ballot."

1 Orangemen got into the force in the North, and Ribbonmen in the South. Though the magistrates had the power of appointing the constables, the Government had the power of dismissing them. This power Drummond used freely, and was clearing the force of Orangemen and Ribbonmen while Parliament was discussing the Constabulary Bill. It would seem that the magistrates in the North exercised their power in a partizan spirit, and made Orange appointments; while the magistrates in the South were lax in the discharge of their duties and failed to keep the force free from objectionable members.