LORD AUCKLAND TO MR. BERESFORD.

Eden Farm, Dec. 14th, 1794.

MY DEAR BERESFORD,-I have not written during the last ten days, because I have not had it in my power to give you any intelligence that would interest you. I passed the evening yesterday at Lord Hawkesbury's ; but it was at a child's ball, and I heard little more than fiddling and dancing. Our friend Rose called here this morning on his way to Holwood; but I, like a good family man, was at church. I understand very positively and pointedly that the new Viceroy is not to remove any individual from office, unless for misbehaviour in office; that William Ponsonby is to be Secretary of State; that George Ponsonby is to be Attorney-General when the situation is open; that Douglas is to be some way or another provided for; that Mr. Grattan is to be superintendent of Irish politics, but professedly on the disinterested, moderating, and conciliatory principle; and that no large or offensive change of measures is to be brought forward. My inference is, that there will be great fermentation, both in the levee rooms at the Castle, and in both Houses of Parliament; that Government will be comfortless; that you, Lord Fitz Gibbon, &c., will not be comfortable; that the Ponsonby set will be restless to get a larger share of patronage; that Mr. Pitt will have lost a large body of Irish friends; that the safety even of the country will be hazarded; but that if you and your friends, and the old set, manage honestly, steadily, and temperately, you will by degrees acquire and maintain all the influence which

you ought to have. gloomy beyond description; you will soon hear more than enough of them. I only know one piece of good news for you;—that hereafter when you come to this place, which I trust you often will do, instead of having five gates to open, there will be but one, which will be opened for you, in the middle of the village of Beckenham; after which you will avoid the water and the gravel-pit, and go nearly in a straight line, without gate or interruption.

All other public subjects are

Yours affectionately,

AUCKLAND.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD AUCKLAND.

Dublin, Jan. 9th, 1795.

MY DEAR AUCKLAND,-In the ordinary course of the world I ought to begin this letter with a long dissertation on the fluctuation of human affairs, &c., &c.; but, to be short, I am to be out of office. I have received a message by a friend, the import exactly as follows:-"There is now an active new Administration in this country; I suppose you know on what footing you stand with them." I replied, "that I was totally ignorant of their intentions, or my situation in their system. All that I know is, and that not from any direct authority, that when in London, I heard that the old supporters of Government were to stand in their old situations." He answered, "that I was misinformed; that he had the greatest re

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gard for me, and therefore thought it necessary to inform me that it was a settled point that I was to be put out of office." I asked him then, "if he spoke from his private friendship, or if he came to me authorised by any, or what, person." He said he came "authorised by the highest authority." I said, "then I suppose I am speaking to the Lord-Lieutenant." He replied, "that he was ready to meet me on his part." The person who came to me was a friend, Denis Bowes Daly. He mentioned the very great regard which he and all his connections had for me, and that he and they wished most strongly to make this business as palatable to me as possible, and begged to know how that could be done.

I told him that it would be rather difficult to point out that line. He wished to make it as satisfactory and as advantageous to me as possible, and proposed my retiring on 20007. a-year, and hoped I would acquiesce. I said I would give him no answer whatever to such a proposition; that I could not think, or believe, that I was betrayed or given up; that as I had not the advice of my brother or my son, I could not give him any answer : he pressed me, but I positively refused, telling him His Excellency had a perfect knowledge of his own powers, and could use them; that it was unnecessary for me to say anything as to my feelings; and that I would give no answer without knowing the sentiments of my friends.

a The Right Hon. Denis Bowes Daly; M.P. for Galway borough 1776; ditto 1783; for King's County 1790; ditto 1797; ditto 1800; for town of Galway 1802; for county Galway 1806 and 1807; married, 1780, Charlotte, daughter of the Right Hon. John Ponsonby.

He begged me to write to Lord Waterford, and that I could have an answer by Monday, when he would call on me again. In the course of our conversation something very curious occurred. He said, "I could not be surprised at such a determination." I answered "that in such times, and considering what had passed under my own eyes within three months, I could not be surprised at anything in the chapter of politics." He said, "No Lord-Lieutenant could exist with my power; that I had made a Lord Chancellor, a Chief Justice of the King's Bench, an Attorney-General, nearly a Primate, and certainly a Commander-in-Chief; that I was at the head of the Revenue, and had the Law, the Army, the Revenue, and a great deal of the Church in my possession; and he said expressly, that I was considered the King of Ireland."

I simply replied, "that the statement which he made so completely answered itself that I could not be at the trouble of saying a word on the subject." Here we ended, he saying he would call on Monday for an answer.

Having detailed to you the whole of our conversation, I mean to call upon you and my friends to act on my behalf, and I appeal to Mr. Pitt to support me. I have a right to call upon him, and I do demand from him common justice.

I intended to write more, but it is so late that you must take what I have said as the sudden ideas of my mind. I am inclined to think it impossible that Mr. Pitt will allow it; but my mind is made up, and I am prepared for any event. I cannot call upon Rose on this occasion; his situation forbids it, and common sense

tells me he cannot act. I care not for what these people can do; I see already that their career is short; it would be easy to overturn the Government, but God forbid that I was the author; I shall wait patiently, but never can consent to be subject to the tyranny of these people for the short-lived emoluments which would

ensue.

Yours ever affectionately,

J. B.

MR. BERESFORD TO LORD WESTMORELAND.

Dublin, 12th Jan., 1795.

MY DEAR LORD,-Although I have not troubled your Lordship on my particular circumstances and interests, yet I apprised others of them who were sure to inform you fully.

In the situation of things, as far as I can understand them, I shall certainly not call upon your friendship to take any part between me and Mr. Pitt. All that I desire of you is, to represent me exactly as you think I deserve to His Majesty, and to every one connected with Irish business.

I have sent a friend to explain my sentiments to Mr. Pitt; I have been pretty strong and explicit; I mean no offence, but I have a right to call upon his fair support. The offer made to me was, that I should retire upon my salary of 20007. a-year. I stated to Denis Bowes Daly, and I have done so to Mr. Pitt, that I go out against my will; that I look upon it as a persecution