30 JULY 1910, Page 2

Lord Hugh Cecil's speech was interesting, among other things, for

its very frank, and as we believe truthful, treat- ment of Charles II. "Did any one suppose that Charles II. would have hesitated to make the Declaration P He did many things far more atrocious than that. He undoubtedly con- sented to the death of a great number of Roman Catholics, whom he confidently believed to be innocent, because it suited his political purposes. He [Lord Hugh Cecil] did not suppose that a man of that kind would have hesitated to make any Declaration. Of course, he repeatedly received Communion in the Church of England, which, if he had any convictions at all, he believed to be an entire mockery. The Declaration was no use against an unprincipled secret Roman Catholic such as Charles IL"