system of violence, venality, &c., &c. Mr. Ponsonby was in the chair; Mr. Conolly signed as secretary. Yours affectionately and dutifully, M. BERESFORD. LORD FITZ GIBBON, LORD CHANCELLOR, TO MR. BERESFORD. Dublin, March 26th, 1795. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I sent copies of Lord Fitzwilliam's letters to his friend Lord Carlisle, by the post of last night, to Lord Westmoreland; of course you may, if you wish it, get them transcribed in his hands. The more I consider the flagrant and unwarrantable calumnies which he deals out so flippantly against you, the more I am decided in my opinion that you ought in the first instance to bring an action against him for defamation, and lay it in the City of London. He had fifty copies of this Memoir made out by the clerks in the different offices in the Castle, which were distributed, by his order, for the last three days of his stay in Ireland. Jephson* applied to him for a copy yesterday, and he promised to send him one from England, not having any of the Irish edition undisposed of. I think you may fairly call upon Lord Carlisle, if necessary, to give evidence, upon the trial of your action, of the writing and publishing this letter. He desires Lord Carlisle to make it public, and he takes care to make this unnecessary, if Lord Carlisle had not thought fit to comply with his request, by dis9 7991 Denham Jephson, M.P. for Mallow' ་་་་ tributing more than fifty copies himself about the city of Dublin. He landed here on Sunday You may also fairly write to Lord Fitzwilliam, if you should determine to take this course, and inform him that you had thought it advisable to take this step to vindicate your character-as he may plead, in justification of the charges, that they are true, and prove the truth of them if he can. One broad fact must damn him on this subject for ever. evening, and was confined to his room by indisposition for the whole of the next day. On Wednesday Mr. Bowes Daly was sent to you. So that he had one day only to inquire into the multiplied acts of malversation which he alleges against you as his justification for wishing to remove you. He also takes occasion to accuse you of duplicity to Mr. Pitt. How he will be able to justify his flagrant breaches of public duty and private faith in publishing a passage of most grave and serious import, contained in a private and confidential despatch received by him from the Duke of Portland-how he will be able to answer it to the British Ministry, whilst he was actually Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, issuing a manifesto to the "good people of this country," recommending to them to pursue a measure of his, which had been condemned unanimously by the English Cabinet, and for which he was, in his own phrase, deposed-how he will answer it to that Government to proclaim to the good people of Ireland that the supplies voted by Parliament were the stipulated price of that measure, and that the discontent arising from his recall will be repressed only by arms-is to be determined on his arrival in England. In his expectation of commotion most certainly he will be disappointed. I am confident the country will immediately be restored to perfect quiet and composure. Yours always truly, My dear Beresford, FITZ GIBBON. LORD WESTMORELAND TO MR. BERESFORD. London, March 31st, 1795. DEAR SIR, I received from the Chancellor Lord Fitzwilliam's Memoirs, and as soon as I can get them copied they shall be sent to you. I shall be obliged to you for any observations that occur to you upon them. In speaking of you in his first letter he says, "it would have been connecting himself with a person labouring under heavy suspicions, and subjecting his Government to the opprobrium and unpopularity attendant on his mal-administration;" and again, "it would leave in much power and authority so much imputed malversation;" but you will see the whole. The Chancellor and Lord Waterford seem disposed to advise you to an action, or at least to take the opinion of counsel. We had little about Ireland yesterday, but shall have a full display when Lord Fitzwilliam reaches town. Grattan's answer, with the explanation of the Me moirs, is most curious. I shall be glad to hear from you as soon as you receive the papers. I am yours sincerely, WESTMORELAND. Lord Waterford relies that Lord-Lieutenants will, in the House of Lords, do you justice; in which not be disappointed if opportunity offers. you will LORD BUCKINGHAM TO MR. BERESFORD. Buckingham House, April 8th, 1795. MY DEAR SIR,-I was unwell yesterday, and could not thank you for your obliging letter. You well know the interest which I take in the political situation of Ireland, and in the personal situation of a friend whom I love to honour as truly as I do Lord Fitz Gibbon. This paltry attack is upon every account exactly what he ought to have wished, as it tends to establish a fact which, though as clear as the light, would always have been denied but for some such overt act. If I am to judge from the Catholic eclogues (not quite Virgilian) between the Committee and the Duke of Leinster, Messrs. Grattan, Conolly, Ponsonby, Knox, and Donoughmore (cantare pares et respondere parati), I should imagine the real hopes of the Committee are but low. In moments of great irritability and intemperance it is difficult to judge from the representations of those who are most eager; but when I think I see much exertion of every sort made to excite and maintain a popular ferment, the writings which are intended to produce that effect are a very sure criterion of the cause which they support. I, too, have read Lord Fitzwilliam's two letters. The wisest man, King Solomon, saith, in the bitterness of his heart, and with every feeling of exasperation, "Oh that mine enemy had written a book!" but in the moment of his most sanguine wishes he did not dare to hope for that advantage from his enemy which yours has given you in "writing two books." They will produce great mischief, and, therefore, I wish they had not existed; but as a monument of one whose Administration (if I can call his short dream by that name) I execrate, I cannot but be gratified in seeing it in the hands of everyone-an Administration 66 Allowing him a breath, a little scene, To monarchise, be feared, and kill with looks, As to your personal share in those two performances, it is a point on which I can say nothing but that I do not recognise Mr. Beresford, either as a public or a private man, in any part of the portrait drawn for him. But the mischief of this publication must be met in both kingdoms; and perhaps it is better that it should be met, as it certainly will be, on different grounds here and in Ireland. Here, much of the question must depend upon the manner in which it is brought forward to discussion in Parliament. From various circumstances I think that Lord Fitzwilliam will not think it necessary to say a word, unless he is attacked. The |