Many on the Ministerial bench, who had still hopes that, on a future occasion, Mr.Edgeworth might be convinced and brought to vote with them, complimented him highly, declaring that they were completely surprised when they learned how he voted; for that undoubtedly the best arguments on their side of the question had been produced in his speech.

Lord Castlereagh found the measure so much against the sense of the House that he pressed it no further at that time.
'This session my father had the satisfaction of turning the attention of the House to a subject which he considered to be of greater and more permanent importance than the Union, or than any merely political measure could prove to his country, the education of the people.

By his exertions a select committee was appointed, and they adopted the resolutions drawn up by him.

When the report of this committee was brought up to the House, my father spoke at large upon the subject.
'In his speech he said: It was impossible, when moral principles are instilled into the human mind, when people are regularly taught their duty to God and man, that abominable tenets can prevail to the subversion of subordination and society.

He would venture to assert, though the power of the sword was great, that the force of education was greater.