Earl Grey followed, in a speech in which he declared
that for forty years he had considered the position of the Church in Ireland an injustice to that country, one which, "by the fierce disputes it occasions, and the violent animosities it creates, checks all Christian virtues, and fosters in their place rancour and ill-will," a beautiful function for a Christian Church. But the Bill, to give effect to his convictions, was not introduced two years ago as it ought to have been, did not respect private gifts, did not supply organiza- tion for the Free Church, was an act of submission to Fenians, involved the confiscation of Church property, and did not endow Catholics, while he held that the nation wished the struggle to be terminated in an amicable way. He therefore moved that the Bill be read that day six mouths, Christmas Day, when Parliament does not sit. The general effect of the noble lord's speech was that the Irish Church ought to be abolished—by Earl Grey. Any other statesman ought to endow the Catholics.
