Uniformity, the Test Act, and the Bill of Rights. The King cannot give his assent to a repeal of any of these without a direct breach of his Coronation Oath, of the Act limiting the Succession to the Crown, and of the Articles of the Union with Scotland. Whenever Mr. Grattan brings in his Bill—and it is printed—I mean to send it over to England, with comments in reference to British statutes which certainly bind the King upon this subject. In their Bill for establishing Papist Colleges they will find the same difficulties, if they do not take more precautions than they are capable of. I am very much afraid that Lord Waterford is strongly inclined to shirk upon this subject. With regard to yourself, I strongly agree with you in everything. As yet we have not heard anything from Lord Dillon. I have reason to believe that he would gladly get rid of the business if he knew how. At all events, I shall call upon him to proceed or to give it up. Yours always truly, FITZ GIBBON. LORD FITZ GIBBON TO MR. BERESFORD. Dublin, 25th Feb., 1795. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I have but time before the post goes out to tell you that I have this moment re a Charles Dillon Lee, twelfth Viscount Dillon, son of Henry, eleventh Viscount, and Lady Charlotte Lee, daughter and heiress of George, Earl of Lichfield; born 1745; succeeded 1787; married, 1776, the Hon. Henrietta Phipps, daughter of Constantine, Lord Mulgrave; died 1813. turned from a conference with His Excellency, who sent for me to communicate his resolution to quit his Government the moment he can get the Money Bills and Mutiny Bill through the two Houses, and to appoint Lords Justices under the authority of his patent. His two grand grievances are your removal, and the difficulties thrown in his way upon the Catholic ques tion. He hopes to get away in seven days. I mentioned to him the expediency of waiting for instructions from England, and an English commission for Lords Justices; but he seems resolute not to wait beyond the time necessary for getting the Bills through both Houses. Yours always truly, FITZ GIBBON. Dr. Ferguson has declined, and George Hill' comes in for Londonderry without opposition. Dr. Andrew Ferguson, the father of Sir Robert Ferguson, Bart.; represented Londonderry 1798 to the Union; married Elizabeth Alexander; created Baronet 1801; died 1806. ↳ The Right Hon. Sir George Fitzgerald Hill, son of Sir Hugh Hill, the first Baronet, and Mary Hodson; born 1764; M.P. for Coleraine 1790; for Londonderry 1795 to 1798; for the county of Londonderry 1800; for city of Londonderry 1802 to 1830; Clerk of the House of Commons 1798 to the Union; Vice-Treasurer of Ireland 1816; appointed Governor of Trinidad 1830; married, 1788, Jane, daughter of the Right Hon. J. Beresford; died 1839. LORD FITZ GIBBON TO MR. BERESFORD. Dublin, 2nd March, 1795.. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-This day I heard that Mr. Grattan's bill had been sent over to England-I presume, to endeavour if possible to remove the difficulties which have arisen there. What his bill may be I know not; but sure I am that to carry his project into execution he must repeal the Act of Supremacy, the Test Act, the Act of Uniformity, the Bill of Rights, and the Act limiting the Succession to the Crown; and I do not think it requires any very great degree of sagacity to see that the King cannot give his assent to a repeal of any of them in this country without a breach of his Coronation Oath, and a direct violation of the Articles of Union with Scotland. If any doubt could exist that the Coronation Oath binds the King not to assent to a repeal of any of the Acts which were enacted before and at the Revolution, for the maintenance and security of the Protestant Establishment, the journals of Parliament would alone remove it. While the Act establishing the Coronation Oath was in progress through the House of Commons, a clause was proposed, by way of rider to it, declaring that nothing contained in the Oath should be construed to bind down the King or the Queen, their heirs and successors, not to give the Royal Assent to a bill qualifying the Act of Uniformity in favour of Dissenters, which was negatived. By the Articles of Union it is declared to be a fundamental article that the King of Great Britain shall maintain the Church of England, as by law established in England, Ireland, and Berwickupon-Tweed. If this has not occurred to Dundas and Loughborough, it would not be amiss to remind them of it; and as to the latter, if by any fatality Mr. Grattan's bill shall find its way to England for the Royal Assent, I do in my conscience think that he will stake his head upon the experiment if he should affix the seal of England to it. Pray remind Auckland of the bargain made in Ireland in the year 1782, by Yelverton's Act, and let him say whether a repeal of any of the English statutes adopted by that Act in this country is not a direct violation of the compact then made by the Parliament of Ireland with Great Britain. I had the honour of a conference on this subject about a month since, when I stated every objection which occurs upon the British statutes, as well as the ruinous policy of the measure to Ireland, even if it were practicable; and from that day to this I have heard no more of it. On Friday last Mr. Forbes came down and moved a string of very absurd resolutions upon the Treasury business, without giving notice to any person whatever of his intention. They were all agreed to in a Committee; and this day, on the report, he washed his hands of the business, and bequeathed his resolutions to Lord Milton, as the most valuable legacy he could bestow upon him. Mademoiselle Duquerry begged to know whether the legacy was accepted, and the poor gentleman was figged up to administer, and immediately moved for leave to bring in a bill pursuant to Mr. Forbes's bequest. The said Mr. Forbes, having thus saddled his ass, proceeded to resolve the House into a Committee of Ways and Means, when and where he abolished the Excise duties on ale and beer, and proposed an additional tax on malt and spirits, which was instantly agreed to, Parnell having ventured to state his doubts whether this project would tend to increase the Revenue. I believe that you will agree with me that by this most salutary financial operation he has eased the subject of taxes to the amount of 100,000. in the current year. I am told that the virtue of Administration is a little staggered at the idea of promoting Mr. Curran. His cruelty, his profligacy, and villany of every kind, was proved so fully on the trial of his action against his Reverence that it is said they are afraid to bring him forward. We talk very much of increasing the military establishment, but Ministers are so much engaged in doing good that they have not leisure to think of anything so trivial as the defence and security of the country. The poor French gentlemen came over here, and were taught to believe they could raise regiments, but Ministers have not leisure to consider how and by what authority aliens can receive military commissions in Ireland. If I had not a wife and children, and a bit of land which in an evil hour my father entailed in Ireland, I should be very much amused at their folly and presumption. Yours always truly, FITZ GIBBON. |