The parliamentary debates of next week will take an unpleasant turn; but I conceive that Government will be supported by full numbers, though in bad temper, with low-spirited language, and no impressions of confidence. The fact is, that the Opposition party is dreaded by the country at large, and that consideration is our main support.

Believe me, my dear Beresford, ever affectionately

yours,

AUCKLAND.

MR. H. CLEMENTS, M.P., TO MR. BERESFORD.

Jan. 23rd, 1795.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I was astonished, on walking down to the Custom House, to find that you had sailed an hour before. I shall be impatient to hear from you from London. The meeting which I was at the night before you sailed consisted of Lord-Lieutenant, and Secretary, Chancellor, Shannon, Speaker, two Ponsonbys, Grattan, Parnell, and Cavendish, and like all consultations, broke up without any material decision.

Lest no one should tell you of our meeting of Parliament, I send you this day's paper. Grattan, two Ponsonbys, Curran, and Hardy were all on the Treasury Bench with Parnell and the Secretary. Grattan was great in his reply to Duquerry, who attacked Pitt, who was well defended by Grattan. There never was so long and so

a Henry Duquerry, called to the bar 1774; K.C.; M.P. for Rathcormack.

stupid a speech as Duquerry's, void of all argument but what made against his motion. He was well mauled, even by Egan. Young Egalité speech, though the Duke of

Hanaper.

made a wild and wicked

Leinster has got the

Believe me, ever most truly and faithfully yours,

H. TH. CLEMENTS.

SIR J. BLAQUIERE TO MR. BERESFORD.

Dublin, 30th January, 1795.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-We are impatient to hear of your safe arrival in London, and of the result of it, though nothing very decisive can be immediately looked for. All things here are in the same state you left them in-people staring at one another, and fearful, as one would think, of opening their lips. Nothing stirring in Parliament; nor do we even guess at what is intended for the defence of the country. It is difficult to make a

a John Egan, called to the bar 1778; K.C.; M.P. for Tallaght. A large man, nicknamed Bully Egan, who made himself notorious by the violence of his conduct upon the defeat of the motion for a Legislative Union in 1799.

b The unfortunate but amiable Lord Edward Fitzgerald, whose political errors were sincerely deplored by those who were the most opposed to his destructive principles, to whom he was personally endeared by his private virtues, and who lamented his untimely fate though they were compelled to condemn and to resist the reckless career which led to it. He was the fourth son of James, first Duke of Leinster, and Lady A. Mary Lennox; born 1763; M.P. for County Kildare; married, 1792, Pamela, the reputed natural daughter of the Duke of Orleans; died

House. A motion about the Militia creates some sensation. It is said to mean J. S., who is reported to have made his militia corps more accommodating to his other regiment than was strictly justifiable; and if this be so, I fear it may go to some lengths.

We had a little innocent riot here last night. It was begun by the college boys, who broke windows of houses not illuminated on account of the new Provost's appointment. Another mob then attacked the Crimp Houses, two of which they gutted in the completest manner, burning in the street even the doors and door-cases. I had the advantage of seeing the ceremony, being at supper at Shaw's, in Fleet Street, quite close to the scene of action; and had it been known that Warren was of our party, the probability is that our house would have shared the same fate and by some accident in the Castle regulations it happened that the captain of the guard refused to give the magistrates assistance, and justified it by his orders; upon which subject I had the honour of waiting upon Lord Milton this morning. All this is bad enough; in truth the aspect of things does not mend. Ever yours,

:

J. BLAQUIERE.

MR. MARCUS BERESFORD TO MR. BERESFORD.

Merrion Square, Feb. 4th, 1795.

DEAR FATHER,-Wolfe was so good as to communicate to me your letter; I have great hopes from it that

a The Rev. Richard Murray.

VOL. II.

F

his successor's appointment will not come over so soon as he expects. You cannot conceive how they have been working and playing tricks to keep back the Money Bills from being laid before the law officers of the Crown, that they may deprive Wolfe and Toler of their fees. I never yet knew any instance of their not being considered before this time. Little things mark the shabby disposition of persons in high places. We had some conversation last night about the vote for 200,0007. for seamen. Duquerry and Tighe spoke very disrespectfully of Mr. Pitt, and insinuated that Lord Fitzwilliam was in his heart averse to the war, and not inclined to support Mr. Pitt's measures in carrying it on. Lord Milton said that Lord Fitzwilliam had been from the beginning as warm a supporter, and as firmly convinced of the necessity of the war, as Mr. Pitt. Grattan made a violent speech on the subject of insinuating that any difference could exist between the Duke of Portland's friends, and Mr. Pitt, and the Cabinet, naming the parties, and that the bare idea of such a dissension was destructive of the welfare of the country. You may suppose that the pledging themselves thus was rather grateful to the feelings of some of their audience.

Yours ever dutifully,

M. BERESFORD.

a William Tighe, M.P. for borough of Wicklow.

MR. MARCUS BERESFORD TO MR. BERESFORD.

Merrion Square, Feb. 6th, 1795.

a

MY DEAR FATHER,-Toler has been much pressed within these few days to resign, and was told by Lord Milton that though they could not now ascertain that there would be a vacancy within a fixed period on the bench, yet that he might rely upon it, when one did occur, that he should be provided for; to which he answered, that he was surprised that Lord Milton could bring himself to offer a promise of future arrangements as a motive to induce him to surrender his office, when he was obliged to preface his offer with an avowal of a breach of his first engagement.

Dr. Duigenan told me this day that he had been informed by A. Browne, that it was yesterday determined at the Castle that William Ponsonby should have the Secretary of State's place immediately, and be recommended also to succeed you. He stated also, that he understood from him that the recommendation went

a The Right Hon. John Toler, second son of D. Toler of Beechwood, county Tipperary, and Letitia Otway; born 1745; called to the bar 1770; Sergeant-at-Law 1780; Solicitor-General 1789; Attorney-General 1798; appointed Chief Justice of Common Pleas 1800; created Baron Norbury 1800; Earl 1827; M.P. for Tralee 1776; for Philipstown 1783; for Goree 1790 and 1797; married, 1778, Grace Graham, who was created Baroness Norwood 1797; died 1831.

b The Right Hon. Patrick Duigenan, LL.D., Professor of Law in the University of Dublin, K.C.; Judge of the Prerogative Court; M.P. for Old Leighlin 1790; for Armagh 1797; and in the Imperial Parliament; a strong opponent of the Catholic claims; died 1816.