Dublin Castle, Jan. 30th, 1792.
MY DEAR LORD,
The multiplicity of business, both public and _private_, in which I
have been engaged since I left Stowe, must plead my excuse for
having so long postponed writing to your Lordship. I cannot,
however, delay thanking you for the communication you have made
through Mornington on the subject of my marriage--a subject I
should not have been silent upon when I had the pleasure of seeing
you, had I not predetermined the case, and therefore was not open
to advice. I flatter myself you will be happy to hear that I have
received a most friendly and liberal letter from the Earl of Bucks
upon the occasion, and have experienced every attention and
kindness from all my friends, and a marked civility from all
persons here on both sides of the question.
You can have little idea of the ferment that has been raised on the
subject of Catholics. When I saw you, I talked of existing
prejudices, which would ever render it no easy task to carry the
English concessions. I little thought that the minds of the
Protestants could be so inflamed, as a variety of circumstances
(but principally the industry of Mr. R. Burke) has inflamed them.
He has endeavoured, and with too much success, to persuade the
Catholics that British Government were determined to compel the
Irish Administration, and through them the Parliament of Ireland,
to open the franchise to the Catholics; that therefore, if they
persevered in the assertion of their claims, they could not fail of
carrying their point. The alarm and indignation that this created
amongst the Protestants was such as I will not venture to describe;
but you may be assured that any Irish Government that countenanced
such a measure could not stand twenty-four hours afterwards, if the
Parliament was sitting. So far from the Protestants being likely to
be terrified into compliance, they instantly became desperate at
the very idea of it. The cry was, "Let us bring it at once to an
issue. If England will not protect us, the sooner we know it the
better: anything is preferable to the horrid state of suspense we
are now reduced to; at all events, we must resist every concession.
Let us not make the Catholics stronger, the better to enable them
to annihilate us at a future day. The Protestants must unite for
their own protection; and although Mr. Pitt's Government will not
defend us, possibly the weight of all the Parliamentary power of
Ireland thrown into the scale of English Opposition may force them
into office, and they may be more disposed to favour us than the
present Administration."
These ideas were rankling in every man's mind when the Parliament
met, and it is with the utmost difficulty that we have been able to
remove them. I cannot paint more strongly to you the real situation
of the feelings of the House of Commons, than by telling you, that
a declaration from me upon my legs, "that it was the determination
of the Government of _both_ countries to maintain the Protestant
establishment, and to resist any attempts by force or intimidation
that might be made to subvert it," afforded a degree of consolation
which, not having witnessed, you can hardly credit, so great was
the apprehension upon the subject.
The newspapers will have informed you of our proceedings upon that
day; I shall, therefore, only add that I am still doubtful of the
event of the Bill, but am inclined to believe we shall carry it. I
hear that, if the Ponsonbys are satisfied that there will be a
majority in favour of it, they will concur; if they think they can
throw it out, they will oppose. Should we carry the Bill, the
gentlemen of the Roman Catholics will be highly gratified, and the
rabble bullied--both circumstances which will tend very much to the
future quiet of the country.
I am informed that Mr. R. Burke and his employers have quarrelled,
and that Ireland may soon hope to be relieved from his gracious
superintendence. I am sure I heartily wish it, for he has
contrived, by his impudence, folly, and misrepresentations, to
awake animosities between the Protestants and Catholics that had
slept for fifty years, and that a reasonable man might have hoped
would have slept for ever. I see no ground to apprehend tumult of
any kind. The Catholics, I think, dare not stir; and the United
Irishmen, with Napper Tandy at their head, are sinking into
nothing. Napper, and indeed his friend Grattan, have totally lost
their influence in the Corporation.
The Duke of Leinster had committed himself very far indeed upon the
subject of franchise, and is now retreating through his Corporation
of Athy, who have addressed their representatives, Colonel Arthur
Ormsby and Mr. Falkiner, to support the Protestant ascendancy.
I am told that the northern people do not much object to our Bill.
Any one step further would have been totally impracticable, and
would have produced a confusion that no man could have foreseen the
consequence of.
My best compliments to Lady Buckingham.
Believe me ever, my dear Lord, with every respect and gratitude,
affectionately yours,