middle or end of the month is the same to them-you, my dear Sir, must regulate it entirely by your own feelings; I am sure it is equally convenient to every other person concerned to meet at one period or the other. I have full occupation here so long as I may remain, and the delay will enable me to do more, and furnish them with new materials for judging of our prospects. Ever, my dear Sir, most sincerely yours, CASTLEREAGH. Pray let me hear from you by return of post. LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD. Aug. 30th, 1799. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I wrote to Mr. Pitt, who is gone to Walmer, to endeavour to ascertain when you may be wanted; I think certainly not before the middle of September, but I will let you know when I can learn. We are all on the tiptoe of expectation for the result of the Dutch businesses-with report of surrenders of fleets, &c., &c., &c. ; but I suffer myself to believe nothing till I see a Government bulletin. The Orange family, &c., &c., are staying here at present. I have perused your observations, and with real great satisfaction and information. Foster's miscalculations had not escaped me, but you have placed them in the best light; perhaps some of your positions might alarm our manufacturers. Yours affectionately, AUCKLAND. LORD CASTLEREAGH TO MR. BERESFORD. Phoenix Park, Sept. 2nd, 1799. MY DEAR MR. BERESFORD,-The Duke of Portland being desirous that some time should be fixed for our meeting in London, Lord Cornwallis has fixed the 25th of this month, trusting that the interval will afford you as much Buxton water as is usually taken without a discontinuance. I shall leave this about the 15th, meaning to call on Lord Hertford in my way. The Union continues to work favourably in the public mind, and we have got some recruits since you left us. If our people are all true, we are strong enough, but as this may not prove the case, we shall leave nothing undone to increase our force. The return of the Brest fleet has a little revived the lower classes, but nothing very formidable is observable. Ever, my dear Sir, most faithfully yours, CASTLEREAGH. a Francis Ingram Seymour Conway, second Marquis of Hertford, son of Francis, first Marquis, and Lady Isabella Fitzroy ; born 1748; M.P. for Orford 1767 to 1794; succeeded his father 1794; appointed Master of the Horse 1804; Lord Chamberlain 1812; married, first, 1768, the Hon. Alice Windsor, daughter of Herbert, Viscount Windsor; secondly, 1776, the Hon. Isabella Ingram, daughter of Charles, Viscount Irwin; died 1822. Lord Hertford was uncle to Lord Castlereagh. LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD. Eden Farm, Monday night, 4th Nov., 1799. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-Mr. Pitt desires me to propose to you to resume our conferences in Parliament Street, on Wednesday next, at eleven o'clock. I hope that our business is now drawing into a practicable shape, and, so far as may depend on us, to a creditable conclusion. This is execrable weather, and if your constitution. can bear it without suffering, you may consider yourself as proof against all attack till next November at least. Yours affectionately, AUCKLAND. LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD. Eden Farm, Wednesday night, 13th Nov., 1799. MY DEAR BERESFORD,-We are just returned from our excursion to Bulstrode, Richings, Eton, and Windsor. In the bustle of our Irish discussions, I have, I believe, omitted to repeat to you (what, however, I hope is superfluous) that it is a most cordial pleasure to Lady Auckland, and to me, and to my daughters, to see you and yours whenever you like to come to us. Lord and Lady Henley are coming for a few days; but Lord and Lady Hobart left us to-day, to go for a month into Lincolnshire, and we are likely to be found without any crowd, and often quite in a family way. Mr. Pitt is desirous to reduce the result of our con ferences to the form of Parliamentary resolutions; when brought to that form, they may merit a conference. And I think that something was said about a meeting to be appointed on Monday next in Parliament Street; but I have not heard from any of our friends since we separated; and the untoward circumstances of the war perhaps occupy all disposable attention in the present moment. I hope that Mr. Wetherall is expediting the accounts. Remember us kindly to your daughters; and believe me, my dear Beresford, very affectionately yours, AUCKLAND. MR. COOKE TO MR. BERESFORD. Dublin, 23rd Nov., 1799. DEAR BERESFORD,-I arrived on Sunday. All seems quiet. I hear, however, they are making clubs among the journeymen of the capital to oppose the Union. Exchange still bad. The reasons are, the discount on our paper, the want of demand for linens, the want of orders for provisions. The latter will be eased in the spring; and I suppose the demand for linen will revive when the prices are duly lowered, which have been enormous. Could you learn whether the foreign linens have undersold us? By the Treasury Abstract to Michaelmas it appears that the cash receipt for the last half year was as follows: :- Is there not one line of duties the consideration of which has been omitted? I mean the duties on foreign articles coming through Great Britain. By the Acts of Customs there is a difference of duty on all foreign articles when imported from the places of their growth directly, or when imported circuitously through Great Britain; and the duty is almost always less on the article coming through Great Britain than when coming directly from the place of its growth. The policy of this system was obvious, because Ireland was treated as a colony; but that relation being at an end, I conceive the system resulting from it should like. wise terminate. This class of duties ought, therefore, to cease, and all goods should pay the same duties when imported circuitously as when imported directly, and so reciprocally. If you have got the accounts, I hope you will have copies sent over. |