States, the exclusive supply of provisions-at least, in peace.

Can you have the goodness to send to me Mr. Foster's answer to the Address of his county? I have mislaid it. I think it was in that answer he gravely stated that the prevention of Union was the best mode of preserving the monopoly of the linen trade.

When the whole of my materials are collected and arranged, they will form a very curious statement. Yours affectionately,

AUCKLAND.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

Buxton Wells, 19th Aug., 1799.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,—I arrived here on Saturday, in such weather as I never before saw, and it has not since ceased raining. I wrote to you from Dublin, and told that I was ordered here. I am much better this day, and I expect to drink the waters in two or three days. I sent you my pamphlet; I have not put my name to it, nor do I intend to do so.

you

I give you the history of it, which is as follows:Cooke wrote to me that he was about a pamphlet, in answer to many written at him, and that he intended to include the Speaker's, and he begged me to assist him in the trade part; I accordingly wrote what you now see, and sent it to him to make a portion of his pamphlet. His Excellency did not like Cooke's production, as there were some imprudences in it, and he stopped the publi

cation, but they took my part, exactly as I sent it to Cooke, and printed it; but no one gave himself the trouble of attending to the press. I have made some corrections and additions, and send you a copy. If you think it worth while, you may send for Stockdale and let him print it. Pray correct anything you think wrong.

I mean to stay here as long as I can, so do not let me be called away until necessary. Write to me on the subject of what we are to do, and particularly your ideas upon the proportionate quantum of our contribution to the general fund.

Ever yours,

J. BERESFORD.

LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Eden Farm, Aug. 23rd, 1799.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I write rather as fishing for another letter from you than as having anything to communicate. Lady A uckland and I are not quite at ease under the late accounts which you have given of your health; and we feel anxious to know the success of your bark regimen, and also of the Buxton waters, if you should try them. In looking forwards to your coming southwards with recovered health, and to stay some weeks among us for Union discussions, I hope it is superfluous to assure you that we shall be happy to see you in this House, not as a visitor, but as a permanent guest, in a quiet corner, with your books about you, and your papers, and for as long as you like.

In the meantime, the subject of Ireland remains in abeyance, and will continue so until the Continental expeditions are all put into action, which I do not think will be the case before the third week in September. At present, Mr. Pitt's entire mind is engaged in pushing naval and military operations; and though I passed the day quietly with him at Holwood on Monday last, hardly one word was said on Ireland, except that he told me he had received" the observations, and had perused a part of them, and was highly pleased with them." I thought myself at liberty to confide to him that they were your work; and I have given to him your corrected copy to be printed (I suppose by Wright, the Government printer) and circulated as soon as he can find time and thinks proper to bring the subject again under the remark of the public. At this moment, so good a work would not have its right effect here.

I have as yet only given a very cursory perusal to your obscrvations, but so far as I can foresee, I shall derive great information from a careful perusal. In truth, as yet I have hardly given a fair perusal to Mr. Foster's speech, for it appeared after our debates, and after I had adjourned the consideration in my mind.

There is a great deal to be said on the subject of Irish contribution; but it is too much for a letter, at least on a fine day, which this happens to be; for fine days are rare. I do not think that we have had three in the present summer.

I do not attempt to say anything about the foreign expeditions, for I really do not know the grounds of information by which His Majesty's Ministers are guided.

My personal knowledge, both of the Dutch people and of the nature of the Dutch coast, would incline me to be by no means sanguine as to success in any attempt on Zealand, and much less on Holland. The attack of Holland by the land, and from the German side, would give me better hopes, and at all events would add to the embarrassments of France. But in any case, the season is too far advanced to allow the expedition to be of much good unless there be sufficient reason to believe that the Dutch will rise against the French. I have no faith in Dutch energy.

All well here. I am, my dear Beresford, affectionately and sincerely yours,

AUCKLAND.

LORD CASTLEREAGH TO MR. BERESFORD.

Dublin, Aug. 26th, 1799.

MY DEAR MR. BERESFORD,-I heard yesterday that you were better, but I wish to be assured of it from yourself. The Lord-Lieutenant has written to know at what time Ministers would wish us to be in London. Let me know what your wishes would be if there was no business in question, and I may be able to prevail on them to conform to what your health so much requires; we go on here tolerably well. The Anti-Unionists have been impudent enough to call the county of Galway, in hopes of converting Trench," as they have done the Members for

a The Hon. Richard Trench, son of William, Lord Killconnell, and Anne Gardiner; born 1767; M.P. for county Galway

Tipperary. Lord Downshire" talks as hostilely as possible, and feels, I am persuaded, more so, but what he will do, depends, I rather think, on what appears feasible at the moment.

I sent your pamphlet to all the Ministers, and have this day received the highest encomiums on it, but this no doubt you have heard more directly. I sent it to Downshire; his comment is so curious that I must transcribe it: "The author seems to know nothing of the waste lands, leather, or potteries of Ireland or England. He seems to be a man of the closet, and to speculate upon different matters either for his own amusement or benefit, taking common talk for facts, and arguing upon theories without attention to practice." This little specimen of dispassionate criticism amused me excessively. May saw the Lord-Lieutenant to-day: he talks cordially on the part of Lord Donegal.a

A despatch this moment from England, says either the

1797 to 1805; succeeded his father as Earl of Clancarty 1805; appointed Postmaster-General of Ireland 1809; Ambassador at the Hague 1813; again 1817; created an English Peer 1815; married, 1796, Henrietta Staples; died 1837.

a Lord Mathew and Mr. Bagwell.

Arthur Hill, second Marquis of Downshire, son of William, first Marquis, and Lady Margaret Fitzgerald; born 1753; succeeded 1793; M.P. for the county Down from 1776 to 1793; married, 1786, Mary, Baroness Sandys; died 1801.

Edward May, eldest son of Sir Stephen May, Bart., fatherin-law to Lord Donegal; succeeded his father, 1812, as Baronet; M.P. for Belfast from 1800 to 1814; died 1814.

d George Augustus Chichester, Marquis of Donegal, son of Arthur, first Marquis, and Lady Anne Hamilton; born 1769; succeeded 1799; married, 1795, Anne, daughter of Sir Edward May, Bart.; died 1844.

VOL. II.

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