more violence and rancour of disposition than they did on the first of this month in this city, and in every town of this county, where they have the least influence. Had it not been for the timely precautions taken by General Myers, the peace of this city would have been greatly disturbed, and that day would undoubtedly have been a day of much bloodshed. I hear with much satisfaction that very little of such factious proceedings have appeared in the other parts of this kingdom: there is not, however, a part of the kingdom where the mass of the people were more orderly and peaceable in the worst of times than in this city and county. But, it seems, it is necessary to keep alive this infernal spirit in these parts, to serve the electioneering purposes of one or two great men. What an affecting reflection, that a country is to be disturbed, and civil and religious feuds and discussions encouraged and promoted, to serve the private self-interested views of a few families! Surely, as Government must be interested in tranquillizing this long-distracted country, they cannot but see the necessity of extinguishing this infernal spirit, by suppressing all clubs, of whatever description, that tend to foment and support it.

When I had the honour of seeing Lord Castlereagh, he was so good as to express his intention of having the Chapel that was burnt near Bandon immediately rebuilt. I announced to the poor people of that parish his Lordship's gracious intentions. They received the news with great joy and gratitude. They must surely think I imposed on them, as nothing has been done for their relief, nor has General Myers received any orders on that business. I am not surprised that his Lordship, with the multiplicity of important matters which would press on his attention, should forget so trivial a matter. Would you, my dear sir, have the goodness to remind his Lordship of it, and, at the same time, to present my most cordial respects to him. I have the honour to be, &c.,

H. MOYLAN.

Lord Camden to Lord Castlereagh.

Bayham Abbey, July 27, 1800.

Dear Castlereagh-The Bishop of Clogher has requested me to write to you upon the subject of the appropriation of the £15,000 to be given by Parliament upon the abolition of the Borough of Clogher. This sum of money is to be vested, as I understand, in the Board of First Fruits, with which Board I do not remember that Government used in my time to interfere; but, as so large a sum of money is now vested in that Board, and public purposes of a larger extent are to be engaged in, I apprehend you will take care to have some influence with them.

The Bishop has mentioned, as he informs me, some circumstances which are materially necessary in that Borough; but that on which he particularly desires me to address you is the foundation of a choir, which I heard most strenuously recommended by the King, who was assured in return, by the Bishop, that he would use his utmost efforts to accomplish it. You will oblige me very much by assisting the Bishop as much as lies in your power in this object.

Believe me, &c.,

CAMDEN.

Private.

Lord Cornwallis to the Duke of Portland.

Dublin Castle, July 28, 1800. My dear Lord-The general tranquillity which has for some weeks past most happily prevailed throughout every part of Ireland, with a few trivial exceptions, has not produced of late any material occurrence; and, in consequence, it has entirely precluded the necessity of any despatch to your Grace on the internal situation of affairs in this country.

I have the satisfaction also to state that the formidable banditti in the mountains of the county of Wicklow, under the noted chief Dwyer, have been broken up and dispersed; many

of them have been apprehended, and I entertain hopes that Dwyer himself will shortly be induced to surrender upon condition of transportation for life.

The partial disturbances, rather of an alarming nature, that had some time since agitated parts of the counties of Tipperary and Limerick, seem at present entirely to have subsided, as well as in the county of Antrim; and, in the frequent reports which I receive from the general officers in the command of districts, there has not of recent date been any act of outrage whatsoever reported to me.

In the northern part of the province of Connaught, as well as in the western counties of Leinster, the poor have suffered considerably, and the scarcity that was almost universal would have been still more severely felt in the metropolis, if Government had not taken effectual precautions, and if humane and benevolent private subscriptions had not been made for their relief; it is, however, with peculiar pleasure I have to mention that, though the distress is still very severe and painful in particular quarters, yet, in the counties that have suffered the most, a great plenty of provisions is now stated to be brought into the markets, and, it is even said, that in Mayo and Galway they are at present overstocked, and the prices, particularly of potatoes, are most materially reduced. I am also to observe to your Grace that there is a most promising appearance of an abundant harvest.

I have the honour to be, &c.,

CORNWALLIS.

Private.

Mr. King to Lord Castlereagh.

Whitehall, July 28, 1800.

My dear Lord-The Duke of Portland will write to you in the course of to-day, relative to the election of the Scotch Peers, but I do not think much information is to be received from our present mode of proceeding other than that it is more decorous than heretofore, when the Government list, with a

sort of official treasury note, was circulated among all friendly Peers with very little scruple. At the last election, if I recollect rightly, it was managed on the spot by the Duke of Buccleuch and the Lord Advocate, who were furnished with the list Government supported, and we only took care here to obtain the proxies of such absentees as they pointed out to us.

If your Lordship or any one else chooses to refer to the cases of interference, complained of in the election of Scotch Peers, they will be found in a book I send by to-night's post, with papers between the leaves referring to cases.

The Duke of Portland has not heard from Lord Rancliff,1 although he sent him one of the blank proxies for signature the day they were received.

There is a general suspension of hostilities between France and the Emperor. There has been an action between a Danish frigate and one of ours-the cause, the former (who fired first) not allowing her convoy to be examined as usual.

Your last Bills will pass the Council to-morrow, before the King goes to the House, and will be returned in the course of the evening, with the draft of the Lord-Lieutenant's Speech, unless the latter should go with this.

I need not say that your last stating the general good appearance and hopeful disposition of Ireland gave great pleasure here.

Ever, most sincerely, &c.,

J. KING.

The Duke of Portland to Lord Castlereagh.

London, Monday, July 28, 1800.

My dear Lord-A fortunate mistake will save us both some trouble. From inadvertence, I opened the letter which I send you enclosed, to which I find I have so little to add upon the subject of the election of the Peers, that it is hardly worth while to trespass at all upon your time with regard to it; and I should have been strongly inclined to have abstained from it

1

Thomas Boothby Parkins, created, in 1795, Baron Rancliffe.

entirely, but from the desire I felt to congratulate with you on the actual state of Ireland and the composure which has already begun to take place in the public mind-a circumstance to which, notwithstanding the confidence I looked with for it, I must confess, has considerably anticipated my most sanguine expectations.

As Mr. King has informed your Lordship, the election of the Peers of Scotland is now left entirely to the management of the great and respectable friends of Government, whose names he has mentioned to you, and it is now so well understood that, as vacancies occur in the course of the Parliament, or at the general election by the disinclination of any of the Peers to Parliamentary attendance, (for it is now generally understood and considered that, unless those who have served are desirous to withdraw themselves, they are entitled to a preference) the Peers of the first respectability in point of rank, fortune, and character, are to succeed, that every idea of contest is in a manner given up, and the election is conducted with almost as little sensation as if the succession was hereditary. But that this should be the case in Ireland at the outset is certainly too much to expect. I should, however, recommend as little appearance as possible of the interposition of Government, and submit to you, if it should be practicable, that the candidates should be proposed by the Chancellor, Lords Waterford, Shannon, Ely, or your other principal friends, rather than by your Lordship or the Lord-Lieutenant in person; and, if lists are to be circulated, I should conceive that it had better and would be more unexceptionably done by the persons of the description I have pointed out than by a direct application from the Castle.

These are my ideas, and I offer them to you only because you have appeared to wish for them; because I am satisfied that you must be better informed and better judges than we can possibly be here of the best mode of conducting the elec tion of your Peers.

VOL. III.

BB