MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND. 19th July, 1798. MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-You wish me to send you the amount of our debt and of our revenue, distinguishing in the former what is due to England, and in the latter what is the amount annually voted. The amount of our funded debt at Christmas, 1797, was Of this sum there is due in England Of this sum there is paid in England. was £9,485,756 6,196,316 698,829 317,521 350,000 Our military establishment is Our civil ditto is The permanent and annual grants are. The last item includes miscellaneous services, canals, public offices, Linen Board, &c., &c. The funded debt is stated to Christmas last, the latest official statement, but to this must be added the debt of the present session, which I have not at present. We are getting on in a very handsome manner, our expenses now exceeding our income by 2,700,0007. (in round numbers). I have sent a newspaper with a tolerable report of M° Cann's trial, who was hanged to-day. VOL. II. M Our Secret Committee was balloted in yesterday, and consists of the following, with the number of votes for By the great difference of numbers, between 111 and 34, you see that there was a great variety of lists. However, the Government lists prevailed generally, except in my son John's case, who was somehow forced in, his own friends, as well as himself, having supported the Government list. I mention these circumstances to show what a spirit is afloat, and owing to a mistaken fear that concession is intended to the Papists, which I am convinced could not be carried. Yours ever, J. BERESFORD. The quit rents cannot be sold under sixteen years' purchase, and the loss of the revenue is just paying so much per cent. interest. I have ordered the trial of the Sheares, as far as it is printed, to be sent to you to-night; you will get the remainder about Tuesday. The short-hand writer is obliged to attend Court, and is delayed. Byrne was condemned at three o'clock to-day. Yours ever, J. BERESFORD. MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND. Dublin, 25th July, 1798. MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-Our Secret Committee goes on very slowly; however, we have before us some very important papers, the contents of which have been long known to the confidential Members of the Committee; I can easily judge of what the effect of these disclosures will be on the public mind from what it has been on those Members who never heard of them till they entered the Committee. We examined two collectors of the United Irishmen and two rebels this day; I made out that they computed their army at 50,000 men, in all their different camps; that not two-thirds of them were armed; that when the rebellion broke out they had few pikes, but made many afterwards; that they were very undisciplined, obeyed no orders but those they liked; that the priests, of whom there were seven in the corps of these two collectors, got the complete ascendancy over them, and made them do what they pleased; that they often presented their pikes at their officers, if they presumed to prevent them doing what they pleased; that their original intention was to rise when the French came, and join in overturning the Government, but that they were driven into rising by the committee in Bond's house and Lord Edward Fitzgerald. This appears to me to have been the case, as far as I can see, I mean with the rabble that did rise, and fortunate it was that they were driven to do so in the state of preparation, or rather no preparation, in which they were, and that they did not wait patiently for the French. This day Mr. Byrne was hanged, and died perfectly hardened. Oliver Bond, the mainspring and spirit of a Oliver Bond; the son of a dissenting minister in Donegal. A wealthy woollen draper, residing in Bridge Street, Dublin. He died in prison 1798. the whole party, was condemned yesterday, and will be hanged to-morrow. The disarming the country, and keeping it so, is one of our great objects now. I think that the people are perfectly tired of the rebellion, and they are so hopeless of success, that I do not think they will rise again, without the French come. Yours ever, J. BERESFORD. I forgot to say that Grattan came over, and wrote an abusive letter to Dr. Duigenan on his pamphlet. The Doctor would give him no answer, and Grattan sailed again. He got no credit, but the contrary. LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD. Eden Farm, Aug. 1st, 1798.: MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I returned on Monday night from a five days' excursion, with Lady Auckland and my daughters, to Windsor and its neighbourhood; and yesterday I passed the day quietly at Holwood with Mr. Pitt, who set out this morning for Walmer. I trust that the sea air will do good to him; he is greatly recovered, but is much shaken in his constitution, and must be very attentive as to diet, exercise, hours, &c. His spirits are as good, and his mind as active, as ever. We have many and long discussions as to Ireland; it seems hardly justifiable to return merely to the old |