[264] The Catholic aristocracy and the older
leaders of the Catholics were offended with it, and soon retired from
any active part in Catholic affairs. This may have been one of
O'Connell's calculations. Although his aggressive propensities were
sometimes indulged to an extreme degree, he was right in the main, for,
the "whispering humbleness" of the older Catholic leaders would have
never won emancipation; and this was handsomely and honourably confessed
to Mr. P.V. Fitzpatrick by Lord Fingal, shortly before his death. Lord
Fingal having sent for Mr. Fitzpatrick, that gentleman repaired
immediately to his lordship's residence, and having been shown into the
library, where the dying nobleman was reclining in an easy chair, feeble
in body, but bright and vigorous in mind, his lordship addressed him as
follows: "Mr. Fitzpatrick, I have been for some time thinking whom I
should pitch upon, to discharge my conscience of a heavy debt, and I
have fixed upon you, as the most appropriate person, because you not
only know me and Mr. O'Connell, but you knew us all who were connected
with Catholic politics for years, and well. You know, too, that I went
forward to an extent, that caused me to be sometimes snubbed by those of
my own order in that body; but, notwithstanding, I, like them was
criminally cowardly.
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