assistance, which assistance is looked to as certain and not far off.

The news of last week has considerably increased the hopes of the party. They now consider peace with France impossible, and look to the attempt at a descent as immediate. In Dublin, I am convinced not a man would stir till the enemy were in the very capital-at least, that is the resolution.

Mr. George Birch to Lord Castlereagh.

J. W.

Ballyheen, October 23, 1800.

My Lord-I beg leave to congratulate your Lordship on your safe arrival in Dublin, and sincerely hope you left Lord Londonderry perfectly well, and that there are still hopes of your brother's recovery.

We have lately had a meeting of the Synod of Ulster, unusually full, and particularly distinguished for the numbers and respectability of the Elders, to take into consideration the report of the Commissioners nominated to communicate with your Lordship relative to the intention of Government making a further provision for the Ministers of that body. It was their anxious wish and desire that whatever addition the wisdom and liberality of Government might be pleased to make to the present Bounty might be conferred on terms similar to those on which former grants were enjoyed. The Presbyterian body have the fullest confidence in your Lordship, and rely on your giving them your support in obtaining that much wished-for object.

Two days previous to the meeting, I was informed that Dr. Little's character and conduct was to be arraigned by Dr. Black, and I attended to prevent it, and use my best endeavours to keep peace, and promote harmony in the Synod; but, unfortunately, the breaking down of my carriage prevented me from arriving in time; and, after the reports of the Commissioners were received, that ill-timed supplement of Black's

was read, notwithstanding every exertion of mine to prevent it. Dr. Little declared it was false, and fabricated to ruin his character, and appealed to Dr. Bankhead, who declared in favour of Little. After such things passing, I moved an adjournment, which was carried, and we met the next day, and dissolved the commission, and agreed to address your Lordship, and Mr. Bankhead and I were appointed to deliver it. This sketch of the Synod's proceedings I thought it my duty privately to communicate.

Private.

I am, with the greatest respect, &c.

GEORGE BIRCH.

Lord Castlereagh to Dr. Black.

Phoenix Park, October 24. My dear Sir-I lament the temper that seems to prevail amoung your brethren, principally because it produces much temporary discomfort to you and others of our friends among the body. I also lament it, as I think it will render the measure less advantageous in itself, at least, for some time, in connecting the Dissenters with the State. In respect to the detail of the arrangement, it can make no alteration, as the principle on which your opponents found their opinions is little likely to make any impression on the minds of Ministers. far from operating as an inducement with them to dispense with precautions, their sentiments are calculated to inspire additional caution.

So

I have received your communication, acquainting me that I am to be honoured with a visit from you and Dr. Birch when I go to the North.

I have now to request that you will furnish me with a correct statement of the several Dissenting congregations, the number of hearers, and the amount of stipend. If I recollect right, this return was called for at the last Synod. I should also wish to have a statement of the discipline and government of the Prebyterian Church in Ireland, with such other

I am writing under perpetual interruption, and have only time to add that I am ever most truly yours,

W. ELLIOT.

Mr. Cooke to Lord Castlereagh.

Dublin Castle, November 18, 1800.

My dear Lord-Lord Cornwallis has ordered 6,000 tons. Cullanan is to be excluded, having done nothing-the old firm, 4,000—Anderson, 1,000-Turnley, 1,000.-The proposal for buying in the 5,000 tons was, that the Commission should not exceed £2,500—it was limited to £5,000 last year, and so in proportion. The half is taken, which is more than 2 per cent., but not much.

Marsden has drawn a statement of an Attachment case, which Elliot sends. The King's Bench played the popular, and, I believe, acted irregularly. The Chancellor, having advised the proceeding in the country, was fit to be tied. He prepared a general pardon for all parties concerned, and wished Lord Cornwallis to sign it. His Excellency most prudently declines to embroil himself with the King's Bench; and I think, if he were to do what the Chancellor wishes, both

would be in a scrape. We shall hope to moderate the Chancellor and smooth the King's Bench, and patch up the matter. I have no news from England-little here.

Most truly yours, &c.,

E. COOKE.

A man of the name of Frawley was convicted in May last by two magistrates of the County of Limerick, and sentenced to be transported, under the Insurrection Act. On the evening previous to his being sent to New Geneva, a writ of Habeas Corpus, directed to the gaoler of Limerick, was received by him, but at the time Frawley was not in his custody, but had been transferred to the Provost's, and orders had previously been given to send him, together with

several others, at five o'clock the next morning, on their way to New Geneva.

Late in the night, the gaoler communicated to Major Uniacke, the Brigade-Major of Limerick, and also a magistrate, his having received such a writ; but, as the Major did not conceive that he was bound to interpose, he suffered the prisoners to depart the next morning. The friends of Frawley, finding that the writ sent to Limerick did not produce effect, immediately procured two other writs, one to New Geneva, the other to Duncannon Fort, for the purpose of meeting Frawley on his arrival there. Major Uniacke apprehended that his suffering the prisoner to depart might subject him to the displeasure of the King's Bench, sent after Frawley, and had him brought back to Limerick and committed again to prison.

For this proceeding, an application was made in the King's Bench for an Attachment against Major Uniacke, grounded on the affidavit of Frawley, alleging that these steps were taken to defeat the process of the Court, and to withdraw the prisoner from the reach of its writ. Major Uniacke, by his affidavit, denied this charge, and alleged his intention to have been as above stated.

Shortly after Frawley's return to Limerick, it was discovered that his conviction had not been regular, and he was again tried at a Petty Sessions, at which Major Uniacke acted as a magistrate, on a charge of having declared that he would join in murdering Protestants, Stags, &c. (I believe the prisoner confessed to the charge). He was sentenced by the Petty Sessions to transportation; but, on appealing to the General Sessions and giving security, he was enlarged. When the General Sessions met, they found that all the proceedings had been removed by certiorari to the Court of King's Bench, where they now are.

The Attachment stood over from June to Michaelmas Term, and, on the 15th of November, the King's Bench attached

Major Uniacke, three of the Judges giving their opinion seriatim; but the Attachment has not yet issued.

The King's Bench, having attached Major Uniacke for interfering to prevent the execution of their process, it being conceived by the Chancellor that such a proceeding would very much discontent the magistrates of Limerick, of whom Major Uniacke was one, his Lordship recommended to the LordLieutenant to pardon Major Uniacke and several other magistrates who had presided at the Petty Sessions, and who were also likely to come under the censure of the Court. His Lordship prepared the form of a pardon for this purpose, upon which, if his Excellency approved of it, a warrant was to be drawn.

The Lord-Lieutenant was pleased to decline to order the warrant to be prepared, on the ground that the case was such a one as was completely within the jurisdiction and cognizance of the King's Bench. Major Uniacke had not acted under the orders of his Excellency, nor was the conviction before a Court Martial; for, in either case, the powers given by the Rebellion Act would have enabled his Excellency to send a certificate to the Court to stop their proceeding. Major Uniacke's conduct as a magistrate or private individual was a subject for the consideration of the Court, and his Excellency did not know of any instance in which the Government had interposed, while the Court of King's Bench was considering of the means of enforcing their process. It was of the utmost importance to preserve the greatest harmony and good-humour between the Government and the Court of King's Bench, the individuals of which Court are men highly distinguished in their situations. But his Excellency was of opinion that, if the punishment to be hereafter inflicted by the Court should be excessive, or such as, in his judgment, the offence did not warrant, he ought to have no scruple in interposing the power of Government to mitigate that punishment.