any opinion on the subject of a Union, and for that reason is supposed to be rather adverse to it. Dr. Hall is rather against it; but, if he be so, I am pretty well persuaded that he will not take an active part. Dr. Barrett has no opinion; and Mr. Kyle, who formerly was warm against it, is now much less so, or is become indifferent. Those who are decidedly for it are but few-Drs. Fitzgerald, Elrington, Browne, Graves, and Mr. Prior. All the rest are warm against it, particularly Mr. Magee, Dr. Millar, Dr. Stokes, and Mr. Davenport.

I am also sorry to add, on the same authority, which is unquestionable, that there is the most violent resentment entertained against Dr. Browne, on the supposition that he intends to support the measure in Parliament, and that it is hard to say to what lengths this resentment may be hereafter carried, which is only smothered for the present. This is but an unpleasant picture, yet, I am afraid, too faithful. However, it seems that no resolutions will be entered into previous to the discussion of the question in Parliament.

I am,

Your Lordship's most obliged and affectionate servant,

CLONFERT.

Anonymous Letter to Lord Castlereagh.

Carlow, February 2, 1800.

My Lord-As I am an old man, and somewhat tamed, I hope you will take an opportunity, in some of your speeches in the House, to inform us, if it is consistent with the safety of his Majesty's peaceable subjects, for military bodies to be stirred up against a measure our worthy Viceroy professes to have at heart, and how far we, who are not able to fight for ourselves, may depend upon a corps (should the present contest end in blows), who decidedly petition against and reprobate the measures of the Government who pay them. Don't you think, my Lord, we may be in some danger of a second part of the concerto played at Castlebar? What has led me

into these reflections, my Lord, is this: I am told, and I believe my authority is pretty good, that an express came into this town last night from a noble Marquis, in consequence of which, there was a general call of his regiment this morning to meet, the officers to meet at the Major's room, the men somewhere else. When the officers met, a letter from the noble Lord was first presented to them, saying he had no doubt of his officers and men signing the petition sent therewith, which petition you will have the pleasure of seeing. All signed that were present, but one-freeholders, non-freeholders, children, &c., &c, and as for the men, drum-boys, fifers, &c., all signed, or were signed for, as your Lordship will see, by comparing it with the muster-roll.

I had the curiosity, in my morning rambles, to ask several of the soldiers what they had signed. One answered he did not know; another, that he signed for the Union; a third, that the Union may not be carried out of the kingdom, and so on. Some replies were so very ludicrous, that, in spite of my apprehensions and indignant feelings at such a farce being acted, my risible faculties were moved. However, my Lord, I hope you will speak a word of comfort to us ignorant politicians, and believe me, my Lord,

Your well wisher,

JEFFREY FORESIGHT.

Captain Boyd to Lord Castlereagh.

Carlow, February 2, 1800.

My Lord-As a letter came this day from Lord Downshire, with a petition for the officers and soldiers of the Regiment to sign against a Union, and as my opinion on that subject does not coincide with his Lordship's, if there is a counter-petition from the county, I beg your lordship will have the goodness to add my name to the list of signatures.

I have the honour to be, &c.
D. BOYD.

Major-General Sir Charles Ross to Major Matthews.

Carlow, February 6, 1800.

Sir-In obedience to his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant's commands, I request you will immediately state to me, in writing, answers to the following questions, viz. :—

1st. Have the officers, non-commissioned officers, drummers, and private soldiers of the Downshire Militia signed any petition against a Union, and by whom was such petition transmitted to them?

2nd. Were the officers, non-commissioned officers, privates, and drummers of the regiment assembled for the purpose of signing such petition, and where ?

3rd. What description of people were allowed to sign the petition ?

4th. Was it explained to the regiment that no officer, noncommissioned officer, drummer, or soldier in the regiment, was to sign the petition, who was not a Freeholder in the County of Down?

5th. To the best of your knowledge, did any officer, noncommissioned officer, drummer, or soldier, sign the petition who is not a Freeholder of the County Down, or who is not of the age of twenty-one?

6th. Was the name of any officer, non-commissioned officer, drummer, or private soldier of the regiment affixed to the petition who was not present at the time?

7th. Was the petition sent to the out-quarters of the regiment, or was there any communication with the officers or men of the regiment detached from the head-quarters on the subject?

In addition to the information required by my former letter, I request you will give me answers to the above questions. I have the honour to be, &c.,

CHARLES ROSS, Major-General.

Major Matthews to Major-General Sir Charles Ross. Carlow, February 6, 1800. Sir-Having read your letter of this date (stating several Questions for me to answer) with every attention in my power, I can not find there is any thing of a military nature in them, but that they all go to acts entirely civil; and, although I am ready and willing to do my duty as a soldier, and most implicitly to obey all my superior officers, yet I cannot think I am by any means bound to account for my conduct as a private citizen, to any but the civil powers of my country. I therefore, with every degree of respect for you, beg to decline any answer to your questions.

I have the honour to be, &c., GEORGE MATTHEWS, Major, R.DS. Regt.

Major-General Sir Charles Ross to Lieut.-Colonel Littlehales. Dublin, February 7, 1800.

Sir-In obedience to his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant's commands conveyed in your letter of the 4th instant, I lost no time in proceeding to Carlow, in order to investigate the different points alluded to in your directions to me.

The first object of inquiry was whether the officers, noncommissioned officers, and private soldiers of the Downshire Regiment of Militia had signed any petition against a Union, which Major Matthews (the commanding officer of the regiment) without hesitation answered in the affirmative, stating, at the same time, that several copies of it had been sent to him by Lord Downshire, in order that such officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of the regiment as were Freeholders or inhabitants of the County Down might have an opportunity of signing it, which Lord Downshire stated in the envelope in which it was enclosed. Major Matthews said the officers of that regiment present at Carlow did assemble at his quarters for the purpose of signing it, which they did with very few exceptions. Amongst those that signed, I understand, were

two officers who are very much under age. The Adjutant of the regiment, in presence of Major Matthews, stated that the petition had lain at his house one entire day for the purpose of receiving the signatures of the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers. In answer to my inquiry whether it was explained by him or any other person, to the soldiers, that none but such as were Freeholders of the County Down should sign the Petition, he said it was not, but that every soldier who pleased was allowed to sign it, and that those who could not write had their names affixed by others.

Wishing to ascertain the numbers that had signed, I asked Major Matthews the question, who said he could not exactly say, but he believed six or seven hundred; and as to the description of the soldiers who had signed, he stated that every man in the regiment was either a freeholder or an inhabitant of the County Down.

Though this investigation had taken place, and was taken down by me in substance, in presence of Lieutenant-Colonel Donaldson, Captain Boyd of the Downshire Regiment, and Brigade-Major Higgins, I conceived it would be more satisfactory to have answers to the different points from Major Matthews in writing. On my expressing this wish, he requested to have a written order to that purpose from me, which I gave him, with the questions annexed, marked No. 1, to which he promised to give written answers in half an hour. After waiting considerably beyond that period, I received the letter marked No. 2, delivered to me by the Adjutant. In consequence of it, I sent for Major Matthews, and stated to him, in presence of the gentlemen alluded to before, that the only capacity I could address him in was his military one, and that the object of my inquiry extended not only to him personally, but to the conduct of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and private soldiers of the Downshire Regiment of Militia, under his command; and that the object of the duty on which I was sent was solely the investigation of the subject,