ground, dropping a glove where he set out, and another where he stopped; I went directly to the latter with my pistol, and his Lordship was walking to the former, and within two yards of it, when a magistrate called out to him by name, "Lord Fitzwilliam, I desire you will keep the peace, I am a magistrate!" His Lordship turned about much agitated, when he was arrested, and his pistol taken from him. I then walked to them, and gave my pistol to Sir George. Lord Fitzwilliam then turned to me and said, "Now, Mr. Beresford, that we have been prevented from finishing this business in the manner I wished, I have no scruple to make an apology," which he did, and hoped it would be satisfactory to me. Having said as much as it was possible for him to say, and having assured me that the letters were never meant for publication, he then repeated for the press, but only to be shown to those friends, who Lord Carlisle mentioned to have conceived certain opinions of his conduct; that the expressions which he used arose from impressions he had received from those he conversed with, and were not intended to injure or relate to my private character. And considering that it was he who called on me, for the expressions in my letter to him, which he acknowledged in his answer to me of the 23rd, but which expressions he never mentioned then, or requested my apology for, I thought it right to accept of his apology to me, and put an end to the business. I therefore said, as matters stood, I should accept his apology. He then hoped that I would give him my hand, which I did, and he said,

Now, thank God, there is a complete end to my Irish

Administration ;" and said something civil, purporting that he hoped we should meet again on more pleasant terms.

The report and conjectures of the town you will hear from others; I have only to add, that I do not wish to publish my letter, but have no objection to its being shown.

Your Lordship will give me leave to return you my sincere thanks for your kindness to me, upon this and every other occasion, and to assure you that I am, most sincerely and affectionately,

Your faithful and obedient servant,

J. BERESFORD.

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM MR. BERESFORD

TO MR. MARCUS BERESFORD.

28th June, 1795.

I was called up at eight o'clock by Lord George Cavendish, and Lord Townshend not being ready, I was obliged to take Sir George Montgomery out with me, as Lord George Cavendish showed me a letter from the magistrate to Lord Fitzwilliam. I was therefore obliged to go directly.

On the whole, Lord Fitzwilliam acted like a gentleman, seemed conscious that he had done what was not warrantable, and, as far as I could conjecture, was un

willing to fire at me; but this can only be conjecture arising from Lord George Cavendish wanting me to fire first.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

Dublin, 5th March, 1796.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-Yesterday ended the Committee of Inquiry into the conduct of the Commissioners of Wide Streets. After a continuance of twentynine days, the Committee came to an unanimous resolution that the Commissioners had in their bargain with Ottiwell acted fairly and honourably, and to the best of their judgment for the public advantage; and the conductors of the business (who, by-the-bye, throughout acted with the utmost malice), were obliged to get up, and declare that the resolution had their strongest approbation, and that there was not the slightest foundation for those injurious aspersions which had been propagated. The whole of the evidence went most clearly to show that the bargain, when made, was an advantageous one for the public, and that the price given for the ground was a fair price at the time. The managers brought two witnesses, both of whom perjured themselves, and one of them is reported to the House and will, I take it, be sent to Newgate; the other was proved to have sworn falsely, but it was more a matter of judgment, or pretended to be so, and therefore he was

not reported. My attorney, and two who acted for Ottiwell in his private affairs, were examined as to any deed of trust drawn up between him and any other person, and although not obliged to answer, they did so in the negative, to the great disappointment of the examiners. They then examined my private Secretary, if he had witnessed any such, and he also gave a decided negative. In short, no step was left untried which they thought would throw suspicion, but all has failed them, and they were obliged to state on their legs what I have written to you.

I should be glad to know what Lord Fitzwilliam will say to his friends who induced him to act as he did, and expose himself to the world. I promise you that the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the collection of the Revenue will expose them full as much as that of the Committee of Wide Streets.

Every day brings out new light as to the wicked and abominable designs of the United Irishmen here. The late trials have proved their intentions of destroying individuals, servants of the Crown, the King, and all kings, to massacre Protestants, and overturn the State, and break off all connection with England. Part of their oath was to destroy all kings, to massacre all Protestants, and to be true to the French and Irish nations. Four have been convicted of treason on the clearest evidence, and ten of conspiring to murder. The plot is almost universal, and any man whom they suspect of giving information is to be murdered. One Smith was a principal evidence in the trial of the ten last convicted. He laid open a wide scene of treason, and what will perhaps surprise you

more, he swore that he gave full information of all he then swore, as to treason, in January, 1795, to Lord Milton, and some other gentlemen who examined him at the Castle; two of them had stars on their coats: and that no notice was taken of his information; that he was so much afraid of being murdered, that he enlisted in the artillery, where he has been ever since, and has now convicted these people.. Opposition here is at an end. They cannot get more than about sixteen this year. All my family are remarkably well. I long to hear how Lady Auckland goes on, and all your family. My dear Auckland, ever yours,

J. BERESFORD.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Palace Yard, March 28th, 1796.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,—I have not yet acknowledged your letter of the 5th. I am less active and exact as a correspondent, having little to do in the world, than I was accustomed to be when I had half the business of Europe upon my hands, and this is a little in the nature of man. I have, however, had, during the last fortnight, a very bad cold, which has helped to make me idle. I am better to-day, and I am going with Lady Auckland to visit the Orange family at Hampton Court, and the young Princess, who is to return in a few days to the Continent (to Berlin), and therefore we are going this day to take leave of her.