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so insolent as constantly, in both playhouses and elsewhere, to clap for the memory of Lord Edward Fitzgerald, the Sheares, Oliver Bond, &c., while no notice is taken, which dispirits the loyalists, increases clamour, and causes the timid to imagine that, if the Union took place, rebellion would break out, while they see no measures taken to meet the event. I do assure you it did influence several to vote against the measure, under the impression of the impropriety of the time for introducing the Union.

I am better of my gout, and able to hobble about with one crutch. I expect my family in town to-morrow, from the North. I have been living alone for a fortnight, a thing I am not much used to.

This instant the packet of Thursday is arrived, and your letter of that day. You ask me, Is it true that some of Lord Waterford's friends were shy of the question? It is a misrepresentation. My son John voted against us, but he told Government all along that he must do so. What they might have done about his office, I know not; but he resigned it, and his reason was, that as he was determined to support Government on other questions, he did not choose his doing so should be attributed to his wish to redeem his place; he therefore felt sore, and would resign.

Yours ever,

J. BERESFORD.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Palace Yard, Thursday, 7th Feb., 1799, 5 p.m. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-Dinner is on the table, and the ladies are voracious and importunate; but I write to say that I have received yours of the 31st. I learn with real pain that you continue so much indisposed. Your worthy friend Colonel Barré has been very ill; but Sir W. Farquhar, who attends him, happened to call on me, and to say that he is much better, and in no danger.

The weather is severe beyond example, and bears hard on elderly people and young children.

Your son John called on me to-day, and I was sincerely glad to see him. He talked in an honourable and gentlemanlike style of all that had lately happened among you, and he authorised me to contradict to Mr. Pitt some very strong expressions said to have been used in the late Dublin city debate.

He has a frank from me for the purpose of sending you, by this post, a copy of Mr. Pitt's speech. Your knowledge of men and of things will enable you to collect accurately from that speech the line meant to be pursued here on Irish businesses-neither violent nor timid, but decidedly moving towards the only measure which can put an end to your confusions, but which measure cannot be forced till there shall exist a pretty general conviction among you of its utility. There will probably be a long debate to-day in the House of Commons. I will write more fully.

There are no news from the Continent. I was under

the painful necessity of making a visit this morning to the Princess of Orange, on the supposed death of her son, who was an excellent young man.

Yours ever affectionately,

AUCKLAND.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

14th Feb., 1799.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-I just write you a few lines to tell you that on to-morrow we are to have a grand exhibition of the troops on both sides. The Speaker has directed the Opposition to propose a measure to counteract the stated determination of Mr. Pitt to persevere in the object of Union. Lord Corry gave notice, but did not tell what the measure was. He avowed that he meant to move a Committee, in which some measure was to be proposed. It is well understood that this is for the purpose of the Speaker's having an opportunity of speaking. It is intended to oppose the Committee. If we should prevail, it is intended, we hear, to ask leave for him to speak from the chair, which I understand is to be opposed.

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I think we shall have a good majority; and if we have, game will turn speedily.

I shall go to the House, although ill able; it is sup

a Somerset Lowry Corry, Lord Corry, son of Armar, first Earl of Belmore, and Lady Margaret Butler; born 1744; M.P. for county Tyrone 1797 to 1802; succeeded his father 1802; married, 1800, Lady Juliana Butler, daughter of Henry, Earl of Carrick; died 1841.

posed we shall be up all night. I fear I shall be knocked up.

The packet, in which my speech of Mr. Pitt's must be, has not come in; that of the next day has, and has brought many of them.

Yours in haste,

J. BERESFORD.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

16th Feb., 1799.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-I some time ago sent to you, Mr. Pitt, and Rose, the speech of Mr. William Smith" on the competency of Parliament to unite the two kingdoms. You since ask me who he is. He is the son of Baron Smith, one of the Judges, and is himself a lawyer. He has been in Parliament since 1795, and has been almost always in Opposition. He is a very whimsical man, eccentric and ill-tempered; goes his own way without connection, and is not to be influenced even by his father. He certainly was very able on this occasion, and is a very ingenious young man, but would be, I believe, very impracticable and hard to act with.

Yesterday came on our battle. Lord Corry moved that the House should resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, to take into consideration the state of

a William Smith, son of Sir Michael Smith, Bart., Baron of the Exchequer, and afterwards Master of the Rolls, and Mary Cusack; M.P. for Lanesborough 1794; for Donegal borough 1797; called to the bar 1788; appointed Solicitor-General 1800; Baron of the Exchequer 1801; succeeded as Baronet 1809; died 1836.

the nation. This he did without stating any ground for such inquiry, or intimating what was to be done in the Committee. In the course of the dullest debate I ever heard, he let out that he meant to propose an address to the King, to express the opinion of our House of Parliament against an Union, to counteract Mr. Pitt's resolutions. The whole of the debate was supported on the ground of Mr. Pitt's speech, which was represented as containing false statements, &c., and much coarse and improper language was made use of. The Opposition were very much elevated and insolent, and were making bets that they would carry the question. However, on division, we had 123 to 103. Mr. Blake was objected to by the Speaker, as he was on the steps of the letterroom when the question was put, which place the Speaker declared not to be in the House, and therefore would not suffer him to be told. This passed while the minority were in the lobby, and proceeded entirely from the Speaker. Mr. Blake would have made us

124.

This majority will, I think, settle the business of the session, as Opposition will not be able to keep their friends together when they see that they are not omnipotent; so that if Government are active to gain friends, they will be able soon to curb the exorbitant insolence of our great man.

By the Irish papers you will see that before we went into the business a Member observed to the Speaker that there were strangers in the gallery; the result was, that the Speaker, from the chair, declared he must put the orders into execution, unless some Member moved

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