raises in loyal subjects, and the dismay which it causes among traitors. Look into our democratic papers, and there you will see the pains and the labour used to run down or prevent the measure; it is the only thing they were afraid of. Their next attempt will be to graft upon it volunteer institutions, but this must not be suffered; the great danger we were in was from the common people, who were certainly all waiting to plunder if the French should land. The United Irishmen of the north, alias the Dissenters and the Defenders, and the Papists, would join them; these two classes are bound by oaths, &c., whilst the mob and common people, not sworn, would take advantage, and plunder everybody, and commit murders and such extravagances as are always the consequences of letting loose the rabble. The utmost pains have been taken by these devils, the United Irishmen, to prepare the minds of the different classes of the people for mischief. The public prints are of the most seditious and inflammatory species. They have a vast number of emissaries constantly going through the country, to seduce every person they can, and swear them; they have songs and prophecies, just written, stating all late events and what is to happen, as if made several years ago, in order to persuade the people that, as a great part of them has already come to pass, so the remainder will certainly happen. These and every other species of contrivance to mislead a silly and superstitious people they practise; and their view is to separate the two kingdoms : this is not a new idea, it has been a settled plan for many years; I have repeatedly, for a series of years,

stated this plan to be on foot, but no one would ever believe me; now it is publicly avowed.

We must look to things as they are, not as they might or ought to be; and in this point of view, I should hope, with the present idea of exertion, we may weather the storm. We have 20,000 army, and seven regiments coming; it is true the Irish dragoons are suspected, but if they have a superior force about them they will act as they ought; of the militia much suspicion is entertained. I cannot speak from knowledge, but from all I can gather there are some regiments ill-affected, viz. Westmeath, Queen's County, Kerry, Limerick city and county, and Longford; others are riotous and ill-behaved, but from all I can find, the disaffection is not general in any of these regiments, and much depends, as I before said, upon the superior force around them; if these regiments be so disposed of as to make them very inferior to the loyal troops around them, they will behave well-if they are so disposed of as that they have the field to themselves, they will misbehave.

The general state is, there are, or ought to be, 21,000 militia; of these there exists about 19,000, of which about 4000 are Protestants. Of the other 15,000 I do really believe, from what I hear, that, except the regiments I have stated, so large a majority will do their duty that the remainder dare not attempt anything, particularly if joined, in large bodies, with the troops of the line: I speak my own opinion. I think, therefore, that we have an army equal to meet any invading enemy, even assisted by traitors at home; but the danger is, as before stated, the common people. If the

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loyal Protestants are armed they will keep the people in alarm; they fear them already beyond idea or measure, and I have no doubt, if this measure be speedily carried into execution, that it will have the best effects.

The state of the country for defence against a foreign enemy properly prepared is, I fear, very inadequate, but everything is doing that can be done, and I hope we shall be prepared in time; I am certain that the defenceless state we have been in was the ground on which our traitors founded their hopes. If ever we shall be a nation again, having surmounted our present difficulties, I hope and trust that some system of common sense will be adopted for this country; and that it will not, as it has been heretofore, be left to chance and perpetual fluctuations.

So much for public politics, in which, you see, I do not despair so soon as I sce exertion commence.

Should things turn out ill here, Lord Fitzwilliam will not have any reason to exult; on the contrary, he is answerable for the whole mischief; for although the fire was in existence, though latent, it was he who blew it up into a flame; and actually set the people into motion against the King and English Government. His prophecies are like those of the United Irishmen; he does the mischief first, and then prophecies that it will happen.

This is a sufficient bore, I conceive; so I shall conclude with most affectionate compliments to all at Eden Farm.

Yours ever,

J. BERESFORD.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

Abbeville, 10th Sept., 1796.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-I write to inform you that my little girl is getting better every day, and I hope will soon be quite well.

Things are getting on well here: a great confidence is arising among the well affected; sufficient good men will be found to keep the country quiet, and to hold down. certain people. A very pleasant occurrence happened the day before yesterday; three regiments of militia, now in Dublin barracks-the Kilkenny (who led the way), the Tyrone, and North Mayo-turned out, and offered to serve in or out of the kingdom, wherever His Majesty thought they would be of most service; and that they were ready to embark at any time at an hour's notice. Paddy is apt to follow example, and I make no doubt that other regiments will do the same. I do most sincerely wish that the offer was universal on your side of the water as well as here. If the militia of both countries were liable to serve in the two kingdoms, like fencibles, we need never fear for either, and this country would be connected for ever with Great Britain, and an end would be totally put to the hopes of the disaffected. Yours ever,

J. BERESFORD.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Eden Farm, September 22nd, 1796.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I have not yet acknowledged your letters of the 4th and 10th instants. I was pecu

liarly obliged to you for writing to me at so much length on the perils of Ireland, at the moment when your mind was engaged by the alarming attack of your daughter Anne. Lady Auckland, who saw both your letters, entered into this last subject of anxiety with much more eagerness than into the other.

The last has much relieved our apprehensions, and we hope soon to hear of her complete recovery. Our minds are much distracted in this country by the hurricane of great events which are crowding upon each other, and make it difficult to know how to estimate our position. The overture attempted, through Mr., to engage the King of Prussia to interfere effectually towards peace, totally failed.

To the application made for a passport to send a person direct to Paris, the Directory have not yet deigned to send any answer. In the meantime we know that they pretend to dismiss their army of the interior and on the coast they are nevertheless planning everything that can tend to an attack on both these islands. To this is superadded the Treaty which the King of Spain, to his eternal infamy, has concluded with the murderers of his family, and lastly, the very alarming accounts from Newfoundland. It is certain that a French fleet had arrived there with troops, which were landing on the 5th instant at Pelly Harbour. There is reason to fear that everything there will be taken, and the whole, including cargoes, cannot be estimated at less than a million sterling. Accounts are also received this evening that the French army have had further successes in Italy.