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III. Tories, Catholics, and the General Election of 1859

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2009

K. Theodore Hoppen
K. Theodore Hoppen
Affiliation:
The UniversityHull
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Extract

The fine and delicate balance of political forces and interests in midnineteenth century Britain is nowhere better demonstrated than in the activities of certain social and religious pressure groups during the general election campaign of 1859. The two main parties were certainly conscious of their past and of the traditions imposed upon them by those who had gone before; equally certainly the differences between them were more the outcome of these traditions than of real contemporary disagreements as to policy or outlook. The Tory administration led by Lord Derby, which had come to power in February 1858, was in a minority in the House of Commons. Its survival depended on an ability to attract dissident Whigs and men of independent views. Derby, never the most optimistic of men, had realized as early as April 1857 that his party, ‘if not an actual corpse’, was at most ‘in a state of suspended animation’.1 By the beginning of 1859 it had become evident to a number of Tory leaders, and particularly to Disraeli, that if the government were to survive, it would be necessary to obtain help from quarters hitherto untapped by the party. A peculiar set of circumstances led Disraeli to look to sections of the Roman Catholic community for such support. Although Catholicism was a growing force in England, the centre of its political operations lay of course in Ireland, which then returned 105 members to Westminster.

Type
Articles
Information
The Historical Journal , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 1970 , pp. 48 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1970

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References

1 Derby to Disraeli, 24 Apr. 1857, Derby Papers, Letter-Book 183/2. I am grateful to Mr Robert Blake for allowing access to papers belonging to Lord Derby while these were in his possession.

2 See Whyte, J.H., The Independent Irish Party 1850–9 (Oxford, 1958).Google Scholar

3 The only Catholic representing a non-Irish constituency at the time was Lord Edward Howard, member for the duke of Norfolk's pocket borough of Arundel. He belonged to this group.

4 Moore, M.G., An Irish Gentleman: George Henry Moore (London, 1913), p. 262.Google Scholar

5 Naas to Derby, 18 Apr. 1857, Derby Papers, 155/1.

6 Eglinton to Derby, 23 May 1858, Derby Papers, 148/3.

7 Dublin Review, XLI (1856), 171–226. This article was written by Wiseman himself. See also ibid. XLIX (1860), 134–43, and XLIX (1861), 416–63, where the journal argued in favour of an Italian federation under the presidency of Pius IX.

8 Tablet, 7 May 1859. The Tablet maintained a strong interest in Irish affairs, and adopted at this time a consistently pro-Tory line.

9 Bowyer to Disraeli, 24 and 25 Mar. 1855, Hughenden (Disraeli) Papers, B/XXI/B/700–1.

10 Bowyer to Disraeli, 15 and [21] June 1856, Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/B/704–5.

11 Maguire to Disraeli, [22 June 1858], Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/M/66.

12 Naas to Disraeli, 17 May 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XX/Bo/7.

13 Derby to Henry Lambert (a Catholic friend), 23 Mar. 1857, Derby Papers, Letter-Book 183/2.

14 Tablet, 15 Jan. 1859.

15 Maguire to Disraeli, 14 Jan. 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/M/67.

16 Reported in Tablet, 4 Mar. 1859.

17 Weekly Register, 12 Mar. 1859.

18 Ibid. 19 Mar. 1859.

19 Bowyer to Disraeli, 11 Mar. 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XI/B/14.

20 Disraeli to Derby, 30 Mar. 1859, Derby Papers, 145/6.

21 One other, Patrick MacMahon, later announced that he would have voted with the Tories had he not been detained on circuit. See Tablet, 2 Apr. 1859. He was not, however, paired, as is suggested in J. H. Whyte, The Independent Irish Party, p. 182.

22 Lord Edward Howard, a Whig, absented himself rather than vote with Palmerston. See Tablet, 23 Apr. 1859. He was of course the thirty-second Catholic member.

23 Naas to Disraeli [April, 1859], Hughenden Papers, B/XX/Bo/14.

24 Prince Albert to King Leopold of the Belgians, 5 Apr. 1859 (Martin, T., The Life of H.R.H. the Prince Consort, 5 vols. (London, 1879), IV, 415Google Scholar).

25 See, Tablet, 5 Feb. 1859, where a number of anti-Palmerstonian Independent Club meetings are described, especially those in Tipperary and Kilkenny. See also ibid. 19 Mar. 1859 for clerical appeals in favour of the administration.

26 The statements of some southern Tories must, however, have raised eyebrows further north. Colonel Vandeleur addressed the Clare electors on 16 April: ‘I recognize no social distinction between Protestants and Roman Catholics; and shall therefore support no government which is not actuated by similar principles of justice and liberality.’ He also wanted to introduce some (probably mild) tenant-right legislation. This address, printed in an unidentified paper, is included among cuttings in National Library of Ireland MS 3377, p. 50. Vandeleur was returned at the head of the poll.

27 Coote to Naas 6 [April] 1859, Mayo Papers (National Library of Ireland) MS 11036. Naas later became sixth earl of Mayo.

28 This letter is paraphrased in Wiseman to Charles Russell (of Maynooth), 10 Apr. 1859, Wiseman Papers (Archbishop's House, Westminster).

29 Tablet, 16 Apr. 1859.

30 Of the 300 voters 104 were Conservatives (i.e. Protestants). Bowyer could have attracted some of these, whereas Macneil would hardly have obtained more than 20 Catholic votes. See Tablet, 23 Apr. 1859.

31 Cork Constitution, 5 May 1859.

32 Halley to Naas, 6 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11026.

33 Halley to Naas, 15 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

34 Maguire to Naas, 16 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

35 Maguire to Naas, 16 Apr. 1859 (a second letter), Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

36 Maguire to Disraeli, 4 Apr. 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/M/69. At his return, Bowyer stated that the Tory ministry, if maintained in power, would grant a charter. See The Times, 4 May 1859.

37 Tablet, 23 Apr. 1859. In McCalmont's, F.H.Parliamentary Poll Book (7th edn., London,1910)Google Scholar Hassard is listed as a Liberal. This is incorrect.

38 Wiseman to T.F. Strange (a local Blake supporter), 13 Apr. 1859, published in Tablet, 7 May 1859. This letter was also printed in a number of other newspapers, and had been privately circulated in the constituency.

39 See Norman, E.R., The Catholic Church and Ireland in the Age of Rebellion 1859–1873 (London, 1965), p. 36.Google Scholar

40 Campden to Wiseman, 5 May 1859, Wiseman Papers. ‘Your eminence’, he added, ‘will be glad to hear that the government election agents put a stop to the opposition to Bowyer and Maguire.’ MacMahon and George were returned, ousting a sitting Protestant Whig.

41 Campden to Naas, 10 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

42 See, for example, The Times, 7 and 9 May 1859, Tablet, 7 May 1859, Liverpool Daily Post, 7 May 1859, and Weekly Register, 14 May 1859.

43 See Vincent, J.R., The Formation of the Liberal Party 1857–68 (London, 1966), p. 264.Google ScholarIn 1859 at Preston 137 fewer people voted than had been the case in 1857. None the less the Tory, Assheton Cross, who was supported by the Catholics, increased his vote by 109 to head the poll. The Catholics' chief enemy, Grenfell, dropped 295 votes and to second place, while their especial favourite, Clifton, though defeated, attracted proportionately more support than had the third (radical) candidate in 1857.

44 Derby to Henry Lambert, 27 May 1859, Derby Papers, Letter-Book 188/1.

45 Talbot to Naas, 11 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

46 Cunninghame to Naas, 13 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

47 The Times, 2 May 1859. Although French had voted against Derby on 31 Mar. he was in many ways an independent member.

48 Tablet, 14 May 1859. Goff was, however, unseated on petition.

49 Nation, 14 May 1859, and Freeman's Journal, 2 May 1859.

50 Tablet, 30 Apr. 1859.

51 Eglinton to Derby, 19 May 1859, Derby Papers, 148/3. As it happened, Hennessy was to become anything but a ‘respectable member’.

52 The address is printed in Tablet, 23 Apr. 1859. For the number of clergy in Irish dioceses, see Battersby's Catholic Directory (Dublin, 1860).Google Scholar

53 Tablet, 30 Apr. 1859.

54 Campden to Disraeli, 29 Apr. 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/G/6. Corbally and MacEvoy were returned unopposed. In neighbouring Kildare a Catholic landowner, newly returned from Rome, promised to support the Tories, saying, ‘We must rescue this country from the political thraldom to which it has now been for so long subjected.’ Quoted in Lord Clancarty to Naas, 24 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

55 Campden to Naas, 23 Apr. [1859], Mayo Papers, MS 11025.

56 Maguire to Disraeli, 6 Apr. 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/M/70. Eglinton defended the exclusion of Catholic jurors, on the ground that it would otherwise be impossible to secure any convictions for agrarian offences in the county. Eglinton to Derby, 8 Apr. 1859, Derby Papers, 148/3.

57 Maguire to Disraeli, [May 1859], Hughenden Papers, B/XXI/M/71.

58 John Machett to Naas, 12 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. ‘We have’, wrote Machett, ‘the choice to support Protestantism and good government or popery and bad government.’

59 Ibid.

60 Ibid.

61 William Crowe to Naas, 20 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11025.

62 Machett to Naas, 12 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. White, however, was not above accusing Calcutt of having asked for Carlton Club money in 1857. See cutting (from an unnamed newspaper) in Lord Dunboyne's scrapbook, National Library of Ireland, MS 3377, p. 52.

63 Machett to Naas, 12 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. White was in fact unseated on petition and Calcutt returned unopposed at the ensuing by-election in Apr. 1860.

64 Crowe to Lord Leconfield, 20 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. Dickson had unsuccessfully fought Kingston-upon-Hull as an outright Tory in 1854.

65 See ‘Notes of Money Paid, 1859’, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

66 James Spaight to Naas, 4 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

67 Freeman's Journal, 26 Apr. 1859.

68 Tablet, 14 May 1859.

69 The Times, 12 May 1859.

70 Spaight to Naas, 5 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

71 Spaight to Naas, 13 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

72 Ibid.

73 See ‘Notes of Money Paid 1859’, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

74 Limerick City Election Petition, , H.C. (1859) IV, 21.Google Scholar

75 Ibid.

76 Spaight to Naas, 4 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. See also Spaight to Naas, 19 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11027.

77 Spaight to Naas, 5 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

78 Nation, 7 May 1859. On 25 April Under-Secretary Larcom reported to Naas that two cavalry troops, 800 infantry, a troop of artillery (173 strong), and at least 300 police were already in Limerick City. Larcom to Naas, 25 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11190.

79 Limerick City Election Petition, , H.C. (1859), IV, 77, 17–18.Google Scholar

80 Ibid. p. 48. The total electorate in 1859 was 2,013.

81 Ibid.. p. 108. The proportion in the population at large was 20 Catholics to 1 Protestant.

82 Spaight to Naas, 4 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. Two others, Wood and Maunsell, ordered their tenants to split Spaight and Gavin.

83 Spaight to Naas, 9 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

84 Moore to Naas, 13 Apr. 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

85 Campden to Naas, 5 May 1859, Mayo Papers, MS 11036.

86 The Telegraph and Connaught Ranger, 4 May 1859, and Nation, 30 Apr. 1859.

87 Vincent, J.R., Pollbooks: How Victorians Voted (Cambridge, 1967), p. 102.Google Scholar

88 Successful: O'Donoghue and Waldron (Tipperary), MacEvoy (Meath), Brady (Leitrim), Lanigan (Cashel), M. Dunne (Queen's County), O'Brien and Hennessy (King's County), Goff (Roscommon). Defeated: French (Galway Borough), Moore (Kilkenny County), Rea (New Ross), Kennedy (King's County). Information taken from addresses, etc., in Tablet, Nation, Freeman's Journal, and The Times. This list does not include men like Bowyer (Dundalk) and Corbally (Meath)—both successful—who were already well-known oppositionists.

89 Freeman's Journal, 27 and 30 Apr. 1859.

90 Nation, 23 Apr. 1859.

91 Freeman's Journal, 2 May 1859.

92 The Times, 13 M a y 1859.

93 Freeman's Journal, 10 May 1859. See also ibid., 28 Apr. 1859, ‘The Conservatives…are anonymously appealing to the pope to aid them.’The Freeman closely reflected the views of Archbishop Cullen. On 25 April it reduced its price from 2½ to Id. because the ‘vital interests of the Liberal party are at stake’. On 17 May it claimed a circulation of 4,500 copies—high for mid-nineteenth century Ireland.

94 Eglinton to Derby, 28 Apr. 1859, Derby Papers, 148/3.

95 See Eglinton to Derby, 10 May 1859, Derby Papers, 148/3:‘I am a little doubtful about Redmond…but I think we have a right to count upon him.’ After 1860 Redmond generally voted with Palmerston.

96 Eglinton to Derby, 17 May 1859, Derby Papers, 148/3. In addition one Protestant Liberal, Luke White (Clare), was considered sympathetic.

97 No two writers agree as to nineteenth-century party affiliation. Dr Vincent, in a similar table, gives one Tory less in 1859 and 1865. J.R. Vincent, The Formation of the Liberal Party p.53.

98 The changes given are those compared with the 1857 general election, disregarding returns subsequently declared invalid.

99 Naas to Disraeli, 2 Apr. 1859, Hughenden Papers, B/XX/Bo/9.

100 See Naas's ‘Notes of Money Paid 1859’, Mayo Papers, MS 11036. This of course was in addition to the considerable sums raised locally. Naas may have had other funds at his disposal of which no records survive. Early in May the Marquis of Downshire sent him £200 for unspecified purposes. See Downshire to Naas, 5 May [1859], Mayo Papers, MS 11026.