ruined by not confining himself to his iron trade, but by extending himself to general importation concerns sugar, &c., &c.

I think with you as to the Marquis.

Ever yours,

E. COOKE.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Holwood, half-past 3 o'clock, 3rd Dec., 1799.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I have only time to say that Mr. Pitt returns his warmest thanks for all your kind assistance. He is now prepared to carry to town on Thursday the corrected drafts of all the articles. We have also agreed to print a few copies of the several accounts of commerce and revenue (as soon as they can be completed) for private consideration. He does not wish to suspend your Bath excursion; but if anything arises to make it really material to have you go to Ireland through London, he will write to you, and in the meantime I will send you copies of the papers, &c., as soon as I receive them, and will write on other matters. So God bless you!

Yours, ever affectionately,

AUCKLAND.

MR. COOKE TO MR. BERESFORD.

Dublin, 11th Dec., 1799.

DEAR BERESFORD,-I trust matters are not doing

amiss here; and instead of symptoms of confidence ap

pearing in Opposition, one or two private offers prove that they really despair.

I have looked over our list, and though there will be twenty friends out of Parliament the first day, I conceive our majority will be decided and large.

Lord Oxmantown is at Bath. I know his friend Sir T. Fetherston' wants to support. Could you or the Chancellor talk to him? He would give us the whole county of Longford.

I think the only jealousy will be as to the period of revision, and as to Ireland bearing common taxes with Great Britain when their debts shall be in the proportion of their contributions. This is an idle apprehension; for in order to reduce the debt of England and its charges to the proportion of the debt of Ireland, England must be discharged of 10,000,0007. a-year in taxes. And if that were the case, the remaining taxes would be fewer and lower than the taxes of Ireland; and in this supposition equality of taxation would be a benefit to Ireland.

I hope you make yourself strong. Keep Lord Clare a week longer if the waters agree with him.

Do

Ever most sincerely,

you know anything about Synge?

E. COOKE.

a Laurence Parsons Harman, Viscount Oxmantown, second son of Sir Laurence Parsons, Bart., and Ann Harman; born 1749; M.P. for county Longford 1776 to 1792; created, 1792, Baron Oxmantown; Viscount 1795; and Earl of Rosse 1806; married, 1772, Lady Jane King, daughter of Edward, Earl of Kingston; died 1807.

b Sir Thomas Fetherston, son of Sir Ralph, first Baronet, and Sarah Wills; married Elizabeth Whiting; M.P. for county of Longford 1797, 1800, 1802, 1806, 1807, and 1812; died 1819.

MR. COOKE TO MR. BERESFORD.

Dublin, 18th Dec., 1799.

b

I

DEAR BERESFORD,-The accounts go to-night; hope they will prove right. I trust that you like the Donegal Address. It has had excellent effects. I hear of nothing bad; but have gleanings of converts. Lord Castlereagh will see Cane." What is Power's real intention? I hear that he is likely to be influenced by Catholic feelings. We are assured that 30 of their 111 will not vote with the Opposition. It is suggested by the British Resolutions that the duties which are to remain on the native articles between the two countries are on revision to be lowered equally on certain principles.

By the new Resolutions those duties are to remain for twenty years, and then cease entirely, if the British Parliament shall please. This will be objected to:first, these duties will produce 150,000l. a-year; secondly, they protect our manufactures. It will be said at the end of twenty years, Great Britain may at one blow take away our protection to our fabrics, and overwhelm them by her own, but still force us to find 150,000. of new taxes upon articles of our own produce, which are now laid on articles of her produce, and thus injure us in a double manner. Should there not be some guard as to the manner of reducing duties ? We have our comparative accounts made out on the value of beer, spirits (British and foreign), malt, tea, sugar, tobacco, wine

a James Cane, M.P. for borough of Ratoath.
b Richard Power, M.P. for county of Waterford.

Almost seven and a. half to one. I have not so examined the accounts as to be sure that there are no

errors.

Most truly yours,

E. COOKE.

MR. COOKE TO MR. BERESFORD.

Dublin, 14th Jan., 1800.

DEAR BERESFORD,-We have at last the amended Resolutions sent over, but no accounts. In the Contribution Resolution the provision is not inserted as to the time when the system of proportional contribution should cease and that of common taxes begin. This system can never with propriety commence till the present debts of the two kingdoms are extinguished, or until the charges of the British debt, compared with the charges of the Irish, shall be in the ratio of their respective contributions. I wish much such a provision to be specially inserted in the Resolutions, in order to obviate jealousy and cavil.

The anti-Union paper has commenced. It is not hitherto good.

The conversation of the Clubs is with us. They think we must succeed, and that the property is with us. The Anti-Unionists count upon 92 only, and I know they are deceived as to several in their list.

Lord Waterford is come up, but I have not seen him;

Lord Castlereagh tells me he is in good spirits. Lord Shannon is in rude health, and hearty. I think we gain ground every day.

Saunderson is come over; he talks Union language, and says he must consult his constituents. Lord Maxwell is recovered, and he is an Unionist. I think we shall be able to get a declaration to them from Cavan. Lord Leitrim writes to Sneyd in great vexation as to Lord Clements."

Parnell thinks we are all humbugging, and that the game is meant to be abandoned. I am afraid, like all humbuggers, he will humbug himself, which I regret. His daughter is rather better, and he is coming up to town.

I hear little of the Speaker. I think we shall not be driven to famine. The potato harvest is excellent, and the crop not bad; and grain is more deficient in quality than quantity.

You wrote that it was extraordinary that when exchange was so high in Dublin it should be as high in

a John James Maxwell, Viscount Maxwell, only son of Barry, first Earl of Farnham, and Margaret King; born 1760; M.P. for county Cavan from 1793 to 1800; succeeded his father 1800; married Grace Cuff 1784; died 1823.

b Nathaniel Sneyd, the celebrated Irish wine merchant; M.P. for Carrick 1790, till the Union; for county of Cavan in the Imperial Parliament; shot near the Bank of Ireland 1833.

c Nathaniel Clements, Viscount Clements, son of Robert, first Earl of Leitrim, and Lady Elizabeth Skeffington; born 1768; M.P. for Carrick 1790; for county Leitrim 1797, and in the Imperial Parliament; succeeded his father 1804; married Mary Birmingham; still alive.