Charles Street, November 19th, 1798.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
I have been anxious, as you will naturally suppose, to lose no time
in making such arrangements as may in any shape assist a situation
so little to my taste, and so repeatedly refused by me, till it was
put in such a shape of duty, as neither my opinions nor yours could
allow me to put by. I have therefore pressed for information on the
subject of Mr. Fisher, and wish to take the earliest opportunity of
stating to you how that matter stands. My mission will be a special
mission to Berlin and Vienna, and William is desirous of putting it
upon the footing and establishment of Ambassador in Ordinary,
though with the rank only of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary, and with that of Privy Councillor; for I
understood that this last high honour will facilitate the means of
increasing the establishment of Envoy Extraordinary and Minister
Plenipotentiary to that of Ambassador in Ordinary. If this meets
with no difficulty, he hopes likewise, upon inquiry, to find
himself justified in allowing me a private secretary, at something
less than that of a Secretary of Legation, which is a guinea per
day. With this general description, therefore, I immediately
acquaint you, and hope you will think its outline tempting enough
to Mr. Fisher to engage him to come immediately, although I cannot
yet name the specific sum to be allowed to him. I must, however,
add that William has urged me in the strongest manner to hold out
to Mr. Fisher no expectation of farther remuneration or promotion
in consequence of this employment; not only because officially he
never admits any such claim of a private secretary, but also
because, by the many foreign appointments lost in the present state
of Europe, he is overloaded with claims of promotion, so as to
leave him no such means whatever. I think it fair to state this as
strongly as it was told me; but, as in your former letter you had
expressed Mr. Fisher's readiness to come to me _without any
expectation of farther remuneration_, I am still inclined to think
that I may depend upon this arrangement as made, and trust to you
for obtaining immediate leave of absence for him in Ireland; I say
_immediate_, because I apprehend that my stay in England cannot
possibly exceed a fortnight from to-day, though I cannot well be
prepared much under that time.
Of course, you will suppose me to be very impatient for Mr.
Fisher's arrival; and I trust he will lose no time, but will let me
see him in London as soon after you receive this letter as he
conveniently can. I cannot describe the probable duration of my
absence, it may be three months, or twelve, or more or less; but it
is too uncertain to leave me any fixed opinion even in my own mind.
Lord Elgin goes to Constantinople, where he will find Sir Sydney,
Koehler, &c. &c.
There is no foreign news whatever by the last mail; but many
accounts are come in of great loss on both sides, both insurgents
and the republican troops in Flanders; and the country is in such a
state, that the six last mails from France have not yet reached
Rotterdam.
A strong report prevails of Guadaloupe having given itself to the
English. It is believed in the city, on the credit of a Danish
ship, arrived from St. Thomas at Portsmouth; and I think they are
disposed to believe it at the Admiralty, though they have no
official account of it.
Our idea in London is, that all Irish courts-martial proceeding on
martial law will be suspended till this question is decided; my own
opinion is, that if the courts of law can safely sit, the courts of
martial law cannot exist at the same time. These latter seem to me
to grow only out of such a disturbed state of things as will not
allow of the due administration of justice by the regular course of
law, and therefore that for a time military government must for the
common safety stand in lieu of the courts of law; but to allow the
courts of law to resume their functions, is, in itself, as it
strikes me, a notice of the cessation of martial law; they cannot
go on together _inter arma silent leges_.
It is expected that Fox and his friends will continue to secede;
and Tierney support the Address, abuse O'Connor, and attack
Government only on this last event in Ireland. Pray write to me by
return of post. I presume I may depend on Mr. Fisher, and therefore
that I am secure in waiting for him.