Dropmore, Jan. 28th, 1799.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,
I am much more mortified than surprised at the event of the House
of Commons debate on the Union; for though Lord Castlereagh wrote
(as he talked) with confidence, yet one saw very clearly the
elements of ratting. I rejoice to hear that you think the question
recoverable, because I am more than ever of opinion that it must be
tried again and again, till it succeeds. With respect to the person
in whose hands it has failed, I may say to you (in _our_
confidence) that my opinion does not very much differ from yours,
if indeed it does at all. Since he has been in Ireland I have seen
no one trait of that character which I thought he had displayed in
former situations of great difficulty, and for which I still gave
him credit, though a nearer view of his mind had certainly
diminished the impressions which I once entertained on the subject.
Sorry I am to confess that I concurred heartily and eagerly in his
appointment, a measure, my share in which I shall deplore to the
hour of my death, though I certainly have nothing to reproach
myself with on that account, having done conscientiously what I
then thought the best, though I did not, even then, think it so
good as others did.
The question of his removal is, however, a very difficult one
indeed--one of the most embarrassing circumstances attending the
present state of Ireland being, that in that office, above all
others, the effect of change, even from worse to better, is
frequently, if not always, more mischievous than the continuance of
the evil. A violent and precipitate removal just now would, I
think, totally unhinge the Government, and it would, above all,
throw the whole absolutists at the feet of those who _perhaps_ (I
think, _certainly_) need not have been made enemies, but who being
such, must be guarded against as such. Lord Cornwallis never did
like the situation; he accepted it unwillingly, and, to do him
justice, I believe solely from a sense of public duty. Since he has
held it he has experienced nothing but disgusts of every kind, and
mortification in every shape, arising no doubt in a very great
degree from his own misconduct, but not on that account the less
galling to his mind. He can therefore certainly have no desire to
stay, and, I should think, would very probably desire to quit at
the close of this session, if the dread of foreign invasion is at
that time not very urgent.
But if it is, what officer have we to oppose to the domestic and
external enemies whom we should in such case have to meet? In a
situation requiring above all others the mixture of civil and
military talents, to a degree that the Duke of Marlborough scarce
possessed them, and for which we must provide by sending some old
woman in a red riband that has not a grain of either.
You see it is easy enough to start difficulties, but I do not think
myself quite so ready at expedients as I wish I was. This is, I
believe, a case where nothing is to be done just now, but to remain
quite steady, announcing an unalterable purpose of carrying this
great measure, and a fixed persuasion that we must succeed in it.
And as to all the rest, if Paddy will set fire to his own house, we
must try to put it out if we can, and if we cannot, we must keep
the engine ready to play upon our own.
I rejoice that you took the determination, both of not speaking or
attending this question in the Irish House of Lords, and of giving
your proxy to the Chancellor, which was at once showing him a mark
of attention and confidence, which he well deserves, and
manifesting your own sentiments in the only way at all consistent
with your situation. A little more than two months will now close
your pilgrimage, from which you will return with the satisfaction
of having done a great deal of good, though not quite all that you
might have done if others had done their part.
God bless you.
You will see in to-day's papers the fate of the poor King of
Naples. The infatuation of the Emperor is like nothing but that of
an Irish Orangeman.
Towards the end of January, Mr. Thomas Grenville again left England on
his mission; but his second departure proved even more unfortunate and
disastrous than the first. The vessel in which he had sailed was
supposed to have made the Elbe, and to have been lost in the ice. The
distressing tidings, or rather the terrible apprehensions caused by the
absence of any authentic or reliable intelligence, were immediately
forwarded to Lord Buckingham. For several days this state of dreadful
suspense continued. Every fragment of news that afforded the slightest
ground of hope was eagerly seized upon; and, in the anxious solicitude
of that affection which appears so touchingly all throughout these
letters, Lord Grenville communicated to Lord Buckingham all he could
learn from day to day. At last came the joyful intelligence that he was
safe! This happy news was rapidly followed by letters from Mr. Grenville
himself, and from his Secretary, Mr. Fisher, announcing his landing at
Cuxhaven, and his subsequent arrival at Berlin.