sician of this town, and author of the letters which appeared in the beginning of the last session under the signature of Guatimozin, and other political productions. As the press was exceedingly violent at that time, and had great effect in inflaming the minds of the people, it was recommended to me as a measure of absolute necessity, by some means, if possible, to check its spirit. On this, a negotiation was opened with Dr. Jebb, who was then the chief of the political writers, and he agreed upon the terms of my recommending him for a pension of 3007. a-year to give his assistance to government; since that time he has been very useful, as well by suppressing inflammatory publications, as by writing and other services which he promises to continue to the extent of his power.

Dame Jane Heron.-I some time since appointed Sir Richard Heron, my chief secretary, to the office of searcher, packer, and guager at Cork, the value of which, upon an average of the last seven years, is about 7007., although the years since the war have been higher than that average, and in order to make it equal to what his Majesty has been graciously pleased to consider as a proper recompense to the chief secretary of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for his discharge of that very laborious and arduous station, I have, at Sir Richard Heron's desire, requested that His Majesty would be graciously pleased to grant this pension to Lady Heron. I have, by the same messenger, transmitted to their Lordships a recommendation that the pensions upon the civil establishment, of Guy Moore Coote, be transferred to his wife Mrs. Mary Coote. This gentleman has always voted with government, and as this was the only request he made, I was induced to comply with it.

Grattan. He first wrote for the people. The effect of Castle influence will in this case clearly be seen.

Their Lordships will receive a third letter, recommending Joseph Sirr, Esq. for a military pension. Mr. Sirr served many years in the army, and some time ago, in the office of sheriff of this county, was of singular service to government. He has long executed the office of Deputy Judge Advocate, the emoluments of which amounted to the sum of 150%. per annum, but having lately lost his sight, is incapable of any longer discharging that duty. His great age, added to his long and faithful services, render him a very worthy object of the royal favour.

The messenger carries with him another letter recommending pensions to Henry Meredyth, Esq., in trust for his nieces Letitia Meredyth, and Judith Woodward, and a further separate application for pensions for Robert and George Gamble, and Mr. Edward Sterling. The reasons which have induced me to make these requests are fully set forth in the letters severally recommending them.

I have also made my humble request to His Majesty through their Lordships, that the salary of 150%. a-year, placed on the civil establishment, for the Honourable John Butler, as clerk of the pipe, may be continued to him and his son Humphrey Butler, during His Majesty's pleasure, on their being joined in that office. Mr. Butler is great uncle to the present Lord Lanesborough, has been a very old servant to government, and is most zealously attached to His Majesty's person and government.

I cannot sufficiently express to your Lordship, with how much reluctance I state these several requests, but I am driven to this necessity, not having any other means of gratifying the expectations of gentlemen who engaged in the service of government through this long and arduous session. The civil patronage never was so slender as during my administration, and the only two capital offices which fell since my coming to this kingdom (the secretaryship of state, and

that of deputy vice-treasurer) were both engaged by my predecessors. I do not mention the late Sir Henry Cavendish's office, as, though he died after my nomination, Lord Harcourt was still in the possession of the government.

I cannot therefore forbear expressing my humble hopes. that His Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant these several requests, and flatter myself, that when your Lordship shall lay them before the king, they will be honoured by your support.

If my recommendation respecting Lord Shannon and Mr. Foster is accepted of, it will enable me to make an advancement for a gentleman whom Lord Shannon particularly protects, and in succession for Mr. Howard, brother to Lord Clonmore, who, with another brother of his Lordship's, have uniformly supported government upon every occasion. The office also of the provost's son, whom I did not choose to remove, though his office is within my department, till I knew your Lordship's sentiments with respect to his father, would enable me to fulfil another engagement, and in succession to take off some of the pensions, a species of provision which of all others gives the greatest dissatisfaction here.

I have the honour to be, &c.

VOL. II.

N

BUCKINGHAM,

178

CHAPTER IX.

Impoverished and depressed state of Ireland.-Changes in the European world. Character of the Irish volunteers-the salvation of Ireland. -New administration.-Retirement of Sir Robert Heron. — Succeeded by Mr. Eden.-Lord Carlisle.-Plans and conduct of the new Irish Government.-Corruption and bribery.—Sir Samuel Bradstreet the Recorder.-Partial success of Eden in reducing the opposition. Mr. Flood's resignation and dismissal from the Council Board.-Demonstration of the volunteers.-Lord Charlemont appointed their General.-Approaching dangers of the Empire.-Dread of invasion. The volunteers.-Meeting of the House.-Irish Navy. -Mr. Yelverton.—Mr. Grattan's motion for repeal of Mutiny Bill.— Lost by a large majority. His pamphlet on the subject.-Answer to it by Dr. Jebb.-Profligate use of the public money.—1781.—Mr. Flood's motion on the Mutiny Bill.-The Attorney-General's humourous allusion to Mr. Flood, and his reply.-Poyning's law.-Anecdote of Mr. Yelverton.-The Roman Catholic Bill.-Mr. Grattan's reasons for supporting it.-Father O'Leary.-Mr. Flood's opposition to the Catholic claims.-Question of trade with Portugal.—The Habeas Corpus Bill.

THE extraordinary letters cited in the preceding chapter; the unconstitutional measures suggested; the rewards for political services recommended and adopted; and the opposition of Government to every measure of redress and retrenchment, show the fatuity and folly, as well as the corruption and violence, of the British ministry, by whose impolicy the country was

reduced to the extremity of distress and discontent. In fact, it may be said, that the island had become so impoverished by the corruption, profusion, and profligacy of her Viceroys, that she was unable even to bear the pensioned gentry. Her revenues had gone back, her debts were increasing, her taxes were unable to support the prodigality, and the people unable to bear the taxes. The country having been called upon to assist in the American war, which, by her disapprobation, she might have determined, and having in consequence lost the linen-trade and the provision-trade, her chief source of subsistence was wholly cut off. The army was called on to continue the madness of the minister, and, in consequence, the nation had no defence left her against foreign invasion; so that the British policy took defence from one part of the King's dominions, in order to take liberty from the other.

By these frantic proceedings, by the lofty pride of the British cabinet, and the impotency of the Irish Government, these two great limbs of the empire,-Ireland and the American colonies,were endangered. In short, the ministers would have completed the subversion of the liberties of Ireland, had they not been destined to extinguish the empire of Great Britain; and Ireland owed her very being to their defeats and disgraces by sea and land. The success of their arms, and the rapid march of their armies, were always marked