Cleveland Row, Jan. 4th, 1799.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
I have been so occupied this last week as really not to have had a
moment to write to you. We have indeed nothing to write; this frost
locks up all our communications; it has sent poor Tom back to us
after nine days' sea-sickness, and when I hoped he was already at
Berlin; and we are now told that less than a fortnight's thaw will
not open the intercourse again. In that time how many things may be
done, and what is worse, how many may not be done! Naples and
Sardinia, with all that belongs to them, you will have seen in the
French papers as fully as we, and we know no more.
In this interval the Union engrosses all my thoughts. I worked hard
when Lord Castlereagh was here to assist in expediting his return,
for I clearly see that without communication the thing will not do,
and that there can be none but through him. I was better satisfied
than I had expected with his manner of doing business, which I
found both ready and clear; and he seems to me to have the success
of this measure most thoroughly at heart. Your letters teach me
still to indulge hopes of success, but the prospect is certainly
less favourable than it was, and the difficulties of Government
with its supporters will be proportionably increased.
Before you receive this you will have learnt that Parnell has been
brought to a positive explanation of his sentiments. What the final
issue has been I do not yet know, but I conclude it will be
hostile, and in that case I think his removal will operate very
favourably, particularly in dissipating the foolish idea you
mention.
Lord Castlereagh brought over here a plan for the election of the
Commons which was approved, and indeed I am satisfied it is the
most reasonable. As it admits only nine or ten single members from
cities, &c., and classes all the other boroughs _by twos_ it seems
to me free from most of the objections you mention; all we cannot
hope to obviate, but must on the whole choose between contending
inconveniences on both sides. It is a very great merit of this plan
in my eyes that it so closely follows the model of the Scotch
Union.
Yet from that model I am tempted to think we ought to depart in the
election for the House of Lords, by choosing for life, and letting
the _electors_ sit in the House of Commons. When Lord Castlereagh
was here I drew a scheme for that purpose, which he has taken over
with him, in order to see which of the two plans is likely to be
most palatable to the Irish peerage--this, or the mode followed in
the Scotch Union. I own I think that the re-election of so large a
number as near fifty Peers in every Parliament would tend almost to
destroy the very principle of a House of Lords in our Constitution;
nor do I think a body of Peers excluded from Parliament (like the
Scotch) by any means a good elective body from Parliament to
Parliament. With one vacancy at a time, arising from death, they
may more safely be trusted.
You gave me hopes some time since of receiving from you some ideas
about provision for Catholic and Dissenting Clergy. I am very
anxious for them.
Adieu, I have exhausted my paper and my light.
God bless you.