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object of great moment to this neighbourhood; and our West India trade, once so very considerable, is still looked upon as capable of revival. The people in these branches say that, if we have a Union, British capital and British skill will ruin them. This argument (like that against machines for the expediting of labour) is almost too absurd to be answered: answered, however, it has been, and I hope that many have been convinced of the folly of it. It is pretty nearly a general wish that this great object may be speedily settled, as the most certain means of for ever quieting the unhappy distractions that have too long tormented this country, as well as procuring for us benefits highly essential both to our commerce and constitution. We would not wish a narrow bargain; we ought to give all we can afford, and, in return, receive from Britain all that she can afford, each striving to assist and benefit the other.

Union on this principle will, I am certain, at present please almost the whole of this part of the kingdom; and, indeed, I think the day is not far distant when the rest of it, not even excepting the metropolis, will do justice to your Lordship's motives for the very active part you have taken in this great national business.

I have the honour to be, &c.
ROBERT BRADSHAW.

Mr. Foster to Lord Castlereagh.

January 14, 1800.

The Speaker presents compliments to Lord Castlereagh, and ¦ has had the honour of receiving his invitation to the meeting at the Castle to-night. As he understood that his not having received a summons to a similar meeting last year arose from his sentiments being known to be adverse to a Legislative Union, he begs leave to acquaint his Lordship that his sentiments will continue the same.

VOL. III.

Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Foster.

Merion Street, January 15, 1800.

Lord Castlereagh presents his compliments to the Speaker. He has had the honour of receiving his note, which has been communicated to the Lord-Lieutenant. Lord Castlereagh takes this opportunity of recalling to the Speaker's recollection, that he had the honour, on the evening the speech was read, previous to the opening of the last Session, to explain by letter to the Speaker, that his not having received the customary invitation to attend that meeting arose from an official inaccuracy, and not from any consideration of the Speaker's political sentiments; and Lord Castlereagh expressed at the same time his regret that this neglect had happened in his office.

The Rev. H. Dowling to Lord Castlereagh.

Tullamore, January 17, 1800. My Lord-Though an obscure individual, yet extremely anxious lest the intemperate conduct of some of my brethren in communion of the City of Dublin (for I am a Catholic clergyman) should impress Government with an opinion that the sentiments of the generality of that communion were in unison with theirs, I have taken the liberty thus to intrude myself on your Lordship, in order to assure you that I, and thousands of my brethren in the country parts of Ireland, whose sentiments I speak, feel exceedingly indignant at the rash and intemperate conduct of the Dublin Catholics, on a late, or rather a present, occasion-I mean, relative to the business of a Legislative Union. In the country parts of this kingdom, we only wait to be called upon, in order to declare our decided opinion in favour of that measure. We are well aware, that all we have hitherto received has been through the recommendation of our Most Gracious Sovereign; and that all we are to expect hereafter must come from the same benign hand. We, therefore, highly disapprove, nay, condemn, the

intemperate conduct of our brethren of Dublin, in thus rashly coming forward to oppose a measure recommended so warmly from the throne. But, thanks to God, they are but an insignificant part of the Catholics of Ireland; and it is ardently hoped that Government are better acquainted with the general sentiments of the Catholic body, than to take the level thereof from those of Dublin. Indeed, we have had more than once reason to be indignant at, and highly to reprobate, the conduct of that body-I mean, the Catholics of Dublin-on some former public occasions. Their agitating spirit is by no means that of our religion or of our choice, as men of common sense. Their conduct heretofore, on some public occasions, has exceedingly scandalized us, and has indeed tarnished the character of our body, although undeservedly. We wish, by all means in our power, to remove every occasion of distrust and diffideuce in regard to our body from the mind of Government, by a conduct totally opposite to theirs.

We hope that Government will accept of our humble services and sincere attachment, and command them on all occasions that may occur. I speak the sentiments of thousands of my communion, and rest,

My Lord, your Lordship's most obedient, &c.

H. DOWLING.

The Duke of Portland to Lord Castlereagh.

Private. London, Friday, January 24, 1800. My dear Lord-I have neither time nor materials to send an official answer to the letters I had the honour of receiving from your Lordship, by this and yesterday's mail; but I am so sensible of the importance of the arrival in Ireland of the regiments from this establishment, which are destined for the immediate service of that kingdom, that I cannot let the post go out without informing you that, in addition to the transports, on board of which three battalions are already embarked, or are on the point of embarking, the ships of war of which I

send you a list enclosed, together with the number of troops which can be conveyed by each of them respectively, have received orders for that purpose; and, as I find that there will be room for considerably more than the strength of the regiments of the line amount to, I will endeavour to have that space filled by the battalion of Guards which is under orders for Ireland. I am ever, my dear Lord, most sincerely yours,

Lord Landaff to Lord Castlereagh.

PORTLAND.

Kildare Street, January 25, 1800.

My dear Lord-Excuse my taking up a few moments of your time. Having heard that emissaries have gone to the County of Tipperary, to obtain signatures to another counteraddress from every hole and corner, permit me, if not an intrusion, to mention that no notice whatever, in my opinion, should be taken of it. Our address stands in so respectable a light, supported by almost all the estated interest in the County, by the personal appearance of the gentlemen at the meeting, property convened (upwards of £300,000 per annum landed property in that County being present), and, on the other side, excepting Lords Mountcashel and Lismore, representatives of the Ponsonby family, no property of any consideration. However, if Government should be of a different opinion, and wish the battle to be fought again, I will go down, collect our forces, stand forward, and exert every influence in my power; but I do not think the Address of the County meeting can be bettered.

If you should be of a different opinion, by a line, I shall wait on your Lordship, with great pleasure: otherwise, I should not wish to give you the trouble of a letter.

Very truly, your Lordship's &c.,

LANDAFF.

1 Francis Mathew, successively created Baron, Viscount, and Earl of

Landaff.

James Gordon, Esq. to Lord Castlereagh.

Bora Lodge, near Enniscorthy, January 31, 1800. My Lord-I took the liberty, a few days ago, to give you an instance, in the Address of Mr. Carew's tenantry, how little the public opinion can be really known by such addresses. The most respectable Protestants here have refused signing it, though they may suffer the enmity of Mr. Carew and his Romanist agents. Those who have signed it are mostly the most miserable Romanists, holding about twelve or fifteen acres each of poor, dear land. The Protestants who have signed it did it through fear, quite against their feelings. Another Petition is going about of the same nature; and wretches, who had signed in favour of a Union before, are now, for fear of their landlord, signing against it. The Protestants, as far as I have had an opportunity of knowing it (and I took much pains), are in general in favour of a Union; and, if the measure could be carried, would almost universally acquiesce in it. I hope the House will not be influenced by such miserable addresses against the Union as I have above stated.

I am,

&c.

JAMES GORDON.

The Bishop of Clonfert to Lord Castlereagh.

Saturday, [no date.]

My Lord-I am sorry that I must give an account of our College' so unfavourable to a measure in which I feel myself much concerned on a double account; both because I conceive it to be intimately connected with the security of the Protestant established religion of this country, and also because your Lordship appears to be much interested in its success.

In conversation yesterday with a friend, who is perfectly well acquainted with the state of the College, I learned the following particulars the Provost does not appear to have expressed 1 Trinity College, Dublin.

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