CHAPTER VI.

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