"There are persons who believe that if the king had not interfered with Lord Fitzwilliam, the Irish Catholics would have accepted gratefully the religious equality which he was prepared to offer them, and would have remained thenceforward for all time contented citizens of the British Empire." So reasonable a theory requires more convincing refutation than a simple statement that it is "incredible." Incredible, no doubt, if the Catholics of Ireland were wild beasts, cringing under the whip, ferocious when released from restraint.

Very credible indeed if Irish Catholics in 1795 were like other people, asking for justice, and not expecting an impossible ascendency.

Interesting as Froude's narrative is, it becomes, when read together with Lecky's, more interesting still.

Though indignant with Froude's aspersions upon the Irish race, Lecky did not allow himself to be hurried.

He was writing a history of England as well as of Ireland, and the Irish chapters had to wait their turn.