Lord Biggunbugger forgets that Wellington didn't have a choice in the matter; the electorate in Clare decided the issue by returning O'Connell in '28. If he haden't pushed for the Catholic Relief Act, he would have brought to his Sovereign's realm the very trouble he'd spent the preceding quarter-century putting down. It was no act of enlightenment on His Grace's part. If he'd had his druthers, he'd have restricted the franchise even further. And to the extent that the Reform Act failed to include women, it was still a far sight better than the status quo.

But again, your lordship, the issue was simply a whore's right to gripe, and your vehement denunciation of her was most telling. I would hate to be one of your underlings. I wouldn't wish that fate upon a sworn enemy.