that it be repealed. This suggestion was immediately adopted, and we are now a French Assembly.

We shall want five millions at least, and no preparation, except the two millions secured by Mr. Pitt, nor is there a tax provided or thought of yet. A member of Opposition has just told me that they do not mean to go further against the Union, but I suspect that they will tease and badger Government, and particularly the new Chancellor of the Exchequer. Our officers are very inadequate.

There is a letter in town this day which says that there are three ships on the coast, supposed to be two French frigates and a ship of the line. This letter was received by Colonel Jackson, Member for Mayo, and Colonel of the Mayo Militia, but Government have no account of them.

Pikes are making, and every preparation for a visit. The French are expected daily, and have sent assurances to their friends that they would be here by the 14th.

Ever yours,

J. BERESFORD.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

18th Feb., 1799.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-I have waited until this hour, half-past eight P.M., in hopes of hearing what was done in the House of Commons; for you must know I am again laid up in consequence of the long sitting of

a Mr. Corry, who succeeded Sir John Parnell 1799.

Friday last; but no news is yet come; the cause of curiosity is a report that the Speaker would, in the Committee of Supply this day, make a speech in answer to Mr. Pitt, under pretence of stating the trade of the kingdom to show its capability. I had made some notes on the subject, which, as I could not go myself, I have given to Mr. Johnson, but I do not think the Speaker will speak upon this occasion, as I have reason to believe he means to publish a pamphlet on the subject.

I am of opinion that, except a little teasing opposition to expose the incapacity of individuals, we are done with opposition for this year; I am sure that our opponents are divided and broken among themselves. Mr. Ponsonby sees that he can do nothing, and he knows that his character was totally gone before this session : he thinks that his opposition to Union has gained him some credit, and on that he will endeavour to regain a character, and wipe away the impressions which the public entertained of his connection with the rebels, or at least Jacobins; and I think he will now support Government, or at least not oppose them.

As to the Speaker, he must see he is not able to carry his point; he cannot but perceive that the country gentlemen are afraid both of him and Ponsonby, and he sees the error of having brought again forward the question of Union, and not being content with the victory he had, and he knows that over that he has been beaten, and that our numbers would increase on every question. My opinion, therefore, is, that he will endeavour to persuade Government that he never meant to them in anything except the one question, Union,

oppose

and that therefore he will now support; I know these are not the opinions of other people, but, however singular I may be, they are mine.

The House is up, and no speech from the Speaker.

Yours ever,

J. B.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Palace Yard, March 14th, 1799.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-Lady Auckland and I are much annoyed by the account which you give of your health; but we are willing to hope that your strong fit of thirty-six hours will have enabled you to send a better account before you receive this note.

I hope to send to you some very curious additional accounts respecting the British and Irish commerce by the post of next Monday. It has been a work of great labour for poor Irving and his department, but will be of great importance in all its bearings, and far beyond the mere consideration of Union.

With regard to that consideration, however, there will be two results perfectly tenable, in defiance of Mr. Foster : the one, that if you have no Union, your commerce, wealth, and capital, must remain subject and subservient to the absolute will and pleasure of Great Britain ; and the other, that if you will condescend to put yourselves on a par with us, your commerce will not only be secured but greatly increased.

We talk of having our Irish debate on Tuesday next;

but our Chancellor is nearly as ill as you have been; and unless he recovers fast, I think that we shall postthe consideration till after the recess.

pone

All well under this roof.

I am, my dear Beresford, ever affectionately yours,

AUCKLAND.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Palace Yard, Thursday, 21st March, 1799.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-WC enter to-day on a ten days' recess, which I shall be glad of; for though we have had no trouble with Opposition in Parliament, the mere details of momentous businesses necessary to be brought before Parliament have been very fatiguing.

I hope to obtain and send for you by this mail a copy of the report of the Secret Committee rcspecting treasonable practices. It is plentifully alarming, and I fear not exaggerated in any respect.

I have postponed the stating what I wish to state respecting Irish trade to our debate on the 4th instant. In truth, there are many points which I have not yet sufficiently examined. And I am desirous to be accurate, and to omit nothing material in a consideration which, when properly understood, will, more than any other, influence the adoption of Union among you. I hope that you will have looked with attention to the printed accounts which I have sent to you; and if any matter occurs that may throw light upon them from a Lord Loughborough.

your side of the water, I wish that you would immediately state it to me. It was once wished that I should also have moved an address to the King for your Irish accounts; but I think that we do better in having the appearance of proceeding entirely calmly, and decidedly on English grounds of reasoning and information; using, at the same time, such particulars of Irish intelligence as we possess.

I must be able to state clearly what is the proportion in value of your commerce inwards and outwards, in four columns-Great Britain, British Colonics, United States, and the rest of the world. Also what is the amount of revenue received on your whole import and export trade in customs and customable excise; distinguishing what you receive from the trade of Great Britain and her colonies, and also what is the amount of duties received on the import of British manufactures and British produce; and on the export to Great Britain of Irish produce. This last includes your export of provisions to us and to the islands. On that subject of provisions I wish you would give me a little sense. I believe that, though it is an object of near two millions sterling, the whole amount is not more than about 30,000 head of cattle (for I conceive that an ox is equal to about three and a half barrels of salted beef) and about 50,000 hogs, all of which is so small a business in the scale of our national consumption that it will furnish good remark. What proportion does the above bear to the whole of your annual consumption of beef and pork?

I think that we give to you, and against the United