REIGN OF GEORGE IV. (_continued_).
Prosperity of the Manufacturers--Depression of
Agriculture--Resumption of Cash Payments--A restricted
Currency--The Budget of 1823--Mr. Huskisson--Change of the
Navigation Acts--Budget of 1824--Removal of the Duties on Wool
and Silk--Repeal of the Spitalfields Act and the Combination
Laws--Speculative Mania--The Crash--Remedial Measures of the
Government--Riots and Machine-breaking--Temporary Change in
the Corn Laws--Emigration--State of Ireland--Efforts of Lord
Wellesley--Condition of the Peasantry--Unlawful Societies--The
Bottle Riot--Failure to obtain the Conviction of the
Rioters--The Tithe Commutation Act--Revival of the Catholic
Question--Peel's Views--The Catholic Association and its
Objects--Bill for its Suppression--Plunket's Speech--A new
Association formed--Rejection of Burdett's Resolution--Fears of the
Moderates--General Election--Its Features--Inquiry into the Bubble
Companies--Death of the Duke of York--Canning's vigorous Policy in
Portugal--Weakness of the Ministry and Illness of Liverpool--Who
was to be his Successor?--Canning's Difficulties--Peel and the
Old Tories resign--State of Canning's Health--His Arrangements
completed--Opposition to Him--His Illness and Death--Collapse of
the Goderich Ministry--Wellington forms an Administration--Eldon is
omitted--The Battle of Navarino--"The Untoward Event"--Resignation
of the Canningites--Grievances of the Dissenters--Lord John
Russell's Motion for the Repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts--Peel's Reply--Progress of the Measure--Lord Eldon's
Opposition--Public Rejoicings 237